On April 3, 1974, a catastrophic F5 tornado devastated Xenia and Wilberforce, Ohio, becoming the deadliest single tornado of the historic 1974 Super Outbreak, which spawned 148 tornadoes across 13 states in just 24 hours. The violent storm, which formed near Bellbrook and moved northeast at 50 mph, flattened entire subdivisions and was so extreme that Dr. Ted Fujita initially gave it a preliminary F6 rating—one of only two tornadoes in history to receive that—before downgrading it to F5. Despite a crucial radar warning from WHIO-TV meteorologist Gil Whitney just before impact, a NOAA survey found the lack of tornado sirens was a key factor in the tragedy, which claimed 32 lives in Xenia and injured 2,000 people across the state. The tornado destroyed homes, schools, and businesses, famously dropping a school bus onto a stage at Xenia High School and toppling railroad cars in the downtown area. As one of the worst tornadoes in American history, this event became a major driving force behind sweeping improvements to warning systems, alarms, and safety protocols nationwide.