Forest County Tornado - Tionesta, PA
Posted by: 
Szuchie
N 41° 29.749 W 079° 27.377
17T E 628853 N 4594950
The memorial dedicated to those who suffered as a result of a tornado which struck Forest County, Pennsylvania in 1985.
Waymark Code: WM36TT
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 02/19/2008
Views: 91
At the above coordinates visitors will find a monument that states:
May 31, 1985
A devastating tornado struck Forest County. Extensive damage occured to our homes, properties and forest. Seven died, many suffered.
According to the website listed below:
May 31st, 1985, is a date that will be remembered by many people who were living in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas at that time.... especially northwestern PA. At least 42 tornadoes, maybe more, touched down in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and southeastern Ontario, Canada. It was an afternoon and evening of hell for people who went through it. Unfortunately, 88 people did not survive the violence. 64 of the 88 deaths occurred in Pennsylvania, with Ohio and Ontario each having 12. Many more people were injured, countless homes, businesses, and other structures were damaged or destroyed. This tornado outbreak would become the worst in this region, and the 13th worst in the United States!
(...)
Another F4 tornado started just west of the Venango/Forest county line, a few miles west-northwest of Tionesta. It moved east for about 29 miles, ending near Pigeon...or about 7 miles northeast of Marienville. Places like Starr, Crystal Springs, Whig Hill, and Kellettville were also affected. 14 of the 17 trailers at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center were destroyed. Throughout the path, more than 700 buildings were damaged, and 125 of them were destroyed. A car traveling on Highway 36 was blown 300 off the road, killing all three people inside. 4 other people were killed by this tornado, making a total of 7 dead. All were killed within a few miles of Tionesta. At least 30 other people were injured along the path of this violent tornado.