This was the first tornado outbreak in recorded history to produce more than 100 tornadoes within a 24-hour period.  And that would not ever be bested for another 37 years in the US until the 2011 Super Outbreak.  The 1974 outbreak caused widespread and extensive damage that spanned approximately 900 sq mi (2,331 km2) as it travelled a total combined path length of 2,600 mi (4,184 km)..It caused an estimated  $843 million in 1974 USD which roughly translates to $4.58 billion in 2019...and over 2/3s of that was in the US alone.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices