Editing Charles City, Iowa (section)

=== Tornadoes ===
Charles City is in a location subject to tornadoes, and has been severely damaged by them many times in its history. In the summer of 1858 (possibly July 21), while still known as the village of St. Charles, a "Terrific Tornado" was recorded. There were 16 deaths, 13 inside the village. The property value of buildings destroyed was into the thousands of dollars (1858 dollars), and the loss of crops was said to be "beyond comprehension", according to the newspaper account.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gendisasters.com/iowa/3421/st-charles%2C-ia-tornado%2C-aug-1858|title=Terrific Tornado in Iowa |newspaper=Chicago Press and Tribune |date=August 3, 1858 |access-date=November 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917082847/http://www3.gendisasters.com/iowa/3421/st-charles,-ia-tornado,-aug-1858|archive-date=September 17, 2012 |via=GenDisasters}}</ref>

On June 8, 1908, a tornado destroyed or substantially damaged around 200 homes and barns. Residents W. R. Beck and a child were killed. The path of the tornado ran through the southeast part of the city, missing the business district. Loss of property was fifty thousand dollars (1908 dollars).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gendisasters.com/iowa/6463/charles-city-ia-tornado-jun-1908 |title=(([no title])) |newspaper=The Iowa City Citizen |date=June 8, 1908 |access-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917082949/http://www3.gendisasters.com/iowa/6463/charles-city-ia-tornado-jun-1908|archive-date=September 17, 2012|url-status=live |via=GenDisasters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gendisasters.com/iowa/6463/charles-city-ia-tornado-jun-1908 |title=CHARLES CITY IN PATH OF TORNADO |newspaper=The Iowa Recorder |date=June 10, 1908 |access-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917082949/http://www3.gendisasters.com/iowa/6463/charles-city-ia-tornado-jun-1908 |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |via=GenDisasters}}</ref>[[File:Charles City tornado.jpg|thumb|right|250px|1968 Charles City tornado]]

==== 1968 tornado ====
{{Main|1968 Hansell-Charles City tornado}}
Many people around the region remember Charles City as the site of a devastating [[Fujita scale|F5]] tornado that ripped through town on [[Tornado outbreak of May 1968|May 15, 1968]]. It resulted in 13 dead, hundreds injured, and was one of the largest twisters ever recorded in the state, this storm destroyed much of the downtown – 256 businesses and 1,250 homes. Damage estimates were of more than $20&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://globegazette.com/news/local/photos-charles-city-tornado-may-15-1968/collection_d2662d60-9939-5bb2-affd-91d3686c9449.html|title=(([Photos: Charles City tornado, May 15, 1968])) |newspaper=Mason City Globe Gazette |date=May 12, 2018|access-date=December 30, 2020}}</ref>