Artifacts
Every object tells a story. Although few objects remain from the destruction, we do have artifacts that help us understand how Kalamazoo immediately reacted to this dark day.
Kalamazoo Gazette “Recovery” edition one-year anniversary,
May 13, 1981
On the one-year anniversary of the deadly tornado, the Kalamazoo Gazette released a “recovery” special edition of the newspaper, recapping the progress that had been made in the city’s rebuilding efforts and following up with residents and businesses hardest hit by the storm.
1981 Committee on Natural Disasters report book
(from Reference Files)
This report was compiled for the Committee of Natural Disasters Commission on Sociotechnical Systems National Research Council in an effort to understand the full impact of the 1980 tornado on downtown Kalamazoo and surrounding area. The booklet includes reports of damage sustained, photos, maps, and other documentation of the tragedy.
Mark L. Crum Jr. Civilian Disaster Area Clean Up Pass (above)
Don Rand Civilian Disaster Area Clean Up Pass (below)
These disaster area passes were issued by the City of Kalamazoo to local volunteers who stepped in to assist with the clearing of debris and immediate recovery efforts. They allowed approved workers to remain safe and accounted for in an organized way following the tornado.
