ROANOKE, Ill. – July 13 is the 20th anniversary of an F4 tornado that ravaged the village of Roanoke and destroyed the Parsons Manufacturing plant.
The National Weather Service says the violent tornado began at 2:34 p.m. July 13, 2004 and was on the ground 23 minutes. But, the twister traveled 9.6 miles across Woodford County reaching F4 strength along a 1-mile stretch between Metamora and Roanoke.
The tornado increased to F4 intensity as it crossed Route 117. Steel beams and metal siding from the Parsons plant were found about three-fourths of a mile east in a farm field.
Photo: Jason Malson via National Weather Service
From the plant, the tornado continued east, affecting four farmsteads about one-half to one mile east of the plant. Two of the farmsteads closest to the plant had two-story houses completely blown away, with only debris remaining in the basements and nearby property. The other two farmsteads had significant damage to the two-story homes, with outbuildings demolished.
The storm was F4 intensity from the plant to the farmlands with an average width of 400 yards, and was close to one-quarter mile wide at times.
Photo: Glade Stutzman via National Weather Service
Miraculously, there were no fatalities. However, there were only three minor injuries among the 150 people inside the Parsons Manufacturing plant.
Parsons owner, Bob Parsons, had witnessed a tornado near the area in 1974 and at the time the facility he worked in did not have a severe weather safety plan or storm shelters.
When his plant was constructed in 1975 he made sure to include a reinforced concrete block restroom to be used as a storm shelter. As the facility was expanded, additional shelters were added. A formal severe weather safety plan was implemented in 2000.
Ruins of Parsons plant in Roanoke with storm shelters highlighted. Photo: Matt Dayhoff-Journal Star via National Weather Service
The decision to rebuild the Parsons plant was made within three days of the tornado. A new 300,000 square foot facility was designed, with the building shells in place by the end of the year, and the facility reopened the following spring. Two of the original storm shelters remained in place, and an additional five reinforced shelters were added to the new facility.
The Weather Service says. ironically, the new facility came close to being demolished by another tornado November 17, 2013, when the Washington F4 tornado passed within about two-thirds of a mile.
