Approximate path of tornado in September 1988

USA / Texas / Lackland Air Force Base /
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On September 18, 1988, Hurricane Gilbert spawned several tornados in the San Antonio area. One touched down in the pre-dawn hours near the Kelly Air Force Base family housing complex. It lifted, as if jumping over the housing, and touched down again in the warehouse area. It moved northwest across the base, damaging numerous buildings. This polygon shows the approximate path the tornado followed. I was working a gate at the time and don't remember where it went after it crossed the flightline.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gilbert
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   29°23'32"N   98°34'32"W

Comments

  • I was next door at Lackland, going through Tech School as a LE Troop when that occurred. We were evac'd to a BMTS bldg, since it was more sturdy. They then detailed a bunch of us (not me though) to assist with cleanup of the areas heavily damaged. For awhile, there was a seriously damaged aircraft over at East Kelly's firing range.
  • I was delivering a car to the auto pound for SAPD. When i got to hwy 90 & 36th st, i saw a transformer blow south of hwy 90. I thought it was an auto accident. So i planned to drop the car i was towing quickly and run to the "accident" i'd just witnessed. When i turned onto growdon rd (running parralel to kelly runway) i saw a very large white bird fly across the road, a second or two later a very large black bird flew across the road. I looked towards the east and saw a very large mass of swirling debris, and finally realized i was in the path of a tornado. All i could do was hang onto the steering wheel and scream, "Dear God! Dear God! Dear God!" i felt the truck rocking back & forth, heard the roar of the freight train...then everything got still and quiet. The next morning, i went back to the area, i could see where the grass between the runway and the road was all jacked up, right up to the fence, then it stopped, and on the other side of growdon rd, i could see the continued path of destruction through the mesquite trees there, it continued on towards lackland. Interesting evening...
This article was last modified 8 years ago