Talk:2013 Washington, Illinois, tornado

Requested move 20 August 2024

The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: Not moved. (closed by non-admin page mover) SilverLocust 💬 06:46, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

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2013 Washington, Illinois tornado → 2013 Washington tornado – more standardized name, confusion with the 2013 EF0 in the suburbs of DC is unlikely, and the event is referred to as "Washington Tornado" on the NWS Central Illinois summary page GeorgeMemulous (talk) 13:58, 20 August 2024 (UTC) — Relisting. Safari Scribe^{Edits! Talk!} 06:22, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

Support, just makes sense Sir MemeGod :D (talk - contribs - created articles) 14:03, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

• Oppose. Tornadoes in Washington (the state) are very much a thing, and the proposed title would confusingly suggest that the article is about a tornado there. Also, the fact that a page specifically about central Illinois omits the word "Illinois" when identifying the tornado is to be expected, but Wikipedia is global and does not have that implicit local context. ╠╣uw [talk] 14:23, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

  Comment Yes, there was at least one tornado in 2013 in Washington State, however I don't think the title would cause confusion there. For Cascadia, see 1972 Portland–Vancouver tornadoes; tornado articles aren't named after the state they occurred in, with a few rare exceptions such as the 1925 Tri-State tornado and the 2021 Western Kentucky tornado. Although, I understand your position, so perhaps a hatnote to List of Washington (state) tornadoes is due. However, since it was easily the most notable tornado in a place named Washington that year, I believe it's worthy of the title of main topic. See also the 2002 La Plata tornado, which didn't take place in La Plata, Argentina, even though Argentina gets tornadoes as well. GeorgeMemulous (talk) 14:51, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

  I don't doubt that the tornado was the most notable one in a place called "Washington" in 2013. I do doubt that most of Wikipedia's world-wide readership, even those familiar with but not experts in tornadoes, would reliably recognize the "Washington" in this case as referring to a small community in central Illinois rather than the US state. (However, if there's clear evidence that they would, I'd be happy to see it.) As such, I just don't think the proposed alternative meets the policy requirements of unambiguously identifying the subject or being sufficiently recognizable, and isn't an improvement over the current title. ╠╣uw [talk] 19:12, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

  See 1997 Jarrell tornado, 2011 Joplin tornado, 2002 Van Wert–Roselms tornado, 1990 Plainfield tornado, 2023 Wynne–Parkin tornado, 2024 Elkhorn–Blair tornado, 2011 Lake Martin tornado, 1930 Montello tornado, 1992 Chandler–Lake Wilson tornado, 2022 Pembroke–Black Creek tornado, 2011 Rainsville tornado, 2011 Smithville tornado, 2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado, 2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado, 1999 Salt Lake City tornado, 1968 Hansell-Charles City tornado, 2015 Garland tornado, and at least 50 others for why adding the state doesn't really matter that much. Sir MemeGod :D (talk - contribs - created articles) 19:18, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

  I'd like to also add that the 2005 Birmingham tornado didn't take place in Birmingham, Alabama, despite Birmingham, Alabama having even more tornadoes (by a significant amount). It isn't called the 2005 Birmingham, England tornado because the tornado itself is what's important for a title, not its location. If the article had no indication of where the tornado happened (i.e. no mentions in the lede or any hatnotes) I would understand. GeorgeMemulous (talk) 19:27, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

  SirMemeGod: None of those are equivalent to the case we're considering here, in that the title being proposed would confusingly suggest that the tornado occurred in a particular state when it did not. Something like 1999 Salt Lake City tornado is clear, since Salt Lake City is unambiguous. Washington by itself is emphatically not unambiguous. ╠╣uw [talk] 20:37, 20 August 2024 (UTC)

  Please see my above comment; in my view, a tornado is notable as an event in itself independent of its map location, and 2013 Washington tornado is going to redirect here anyway, so a hat note redirect will be necessary either way. GeorgeMemulous (talk) 01:45, 21 August 2024 (UTC)

  See above comment. Sir MemeGod :D (talk - contribs - created articles) 19:53, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

  Comment: Also re sources, it looks like non-local sources include the state: National Weather Service (November 17, 2013: Washington, IL Tornado), Tornado Talk (Washington, IL EF4 Tornado - November 17, 2013), ABC News: (Washington IL tornado ranked as EF-4; victim ID'd), Storm chasers (November 17, 2013 Washington, Illinois Tornado), etc. ╠╣uw [talk] 12:38, 24 August 2024 (UTC)

  Comment NNWX is a blog, TornadoTalk is considered unreliable, the only RSs there are the ARCGis and ABC7. To counter this, here's a list of (reliable) sources without the "IL"

  • https://www.weather.gov/ilx/17nov13-tor2 (Washington Tornado (Tazewell/Woodford Counties) of 11/17/2013))
  • https://www.weather.gov/ilx/17nov13-revisited ("The tornado which moved through Washington")
  • https://www.25newsnow.com/2021/11/18/remembering-washington-tornado-8-years-later/ (Remembering the Washington tornado 8 years later)

  Sir MemeGod :D (talk - contribs - created articles) 19:52, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

  That your NWS source identifies it as the "Washington Tornado (Tazewell/Woodford Counties) of 11/17/2013" suggests that something more than just "Washington" is indeed necessary.

  Also, the sources you're sharing are specifically about central Illinois (the Channel 25 local news in Peoria, and the "Central Illinois" section at weather.gov), so the state being Illinois is naturally assumed and implicit, and doesn't need to be restated. Wikipedia, however, is worldwide — we don’t have that local context.

  Sources that are not explicitly about central Illinois do tend to include "IL" or "Illinois" when referencing the event, presumably because saying only “Washington” would be confusing. For example, the tornado was covered by the Washington Post, Indianapolis Star, New York Times, etc., none of which identify the town simply as "Washington" or the tornado as the "Washington tornado". ╠╣uw [talk] 23:07, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

• Oppose removing the state, which makes this less WP:RECOGNIZABLE. And while I don't really like the rule, the MOS would seem to indicate 2013 Washington, Illinois, tornado. Dekimasuよ! 05:27, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

Note: WikiProject Illinois, WikiProject Severe weather, and WikiProject Weather have been notified of this discussion. Safari Scribe^{Edits! Talk!} 06:23, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

Oppose per @Dekimasu Killuminator (talk) 07:41, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

Oppose for same reasons as above. Jokullmusic 03:29, 30 August 2024 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

GA Review

This review is transcluded from Talk:2013 Washington, Illinois tornado/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Nominator: Hoguert (talk · contribs) 19:06, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

Reviewer: Sammi Brie (talk · contribs) 16:23, 19 October 2024 (UTC)

Did you know? If you fancy doing so, I always have plenty of GA nominees to review. Just look for the all-uppercase titles in the Television section. Reviews always appreciated.

Your writing has a major issue with comma splices: A lot of sentences sound like this, they continue on for several more clauses bound by commas, they lack punctuation and often should be two or three sentences. Half your battle is splitting long sentences that are incorrectly structured. There are a few places where the detail level seems just a touch over the top.

Copy changes

I would like to flag something at the top here. MOS:GEOCOMMA requires commas after city and state constructions. This article's title should be 2013 Washington, Illinois, tornado. GEOCOMMAs are also needed throughout the article.

•  Done Moved the article Hoguert (Talk Page)

General other notes:

• Use {{convert}} for units of measurement. I have implemented this throughout the article to demonstrate.

Lead

• This tornado was one of the two violent tornadoes in the Tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013 and was the strongest, costliest, and longest-tracked tornado Like GEOCOMMAs, there are also MOS:DATECOMMAs. This tornado was one of the two violent tornadoes in the tornado outbreak of November 17, 2013, and was the strongest, costliest, and longest-tracked tornado. This comma is needed even though the sentence structure otherwise does not call for it.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The intense supercell responsible for the tornado first produced at 10:59 am CDT 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of North Pekin, it crossed I-474, intensifying to a strong EF2 tornado. Comma splice. Change the comma after Pekin to a semicolon.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• fluctuating between EF2-EF3 strength do fluctuating between EF2 and EF3 strength
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• As it entered Washington, the tornado became violent as some homes in the Woodridge Trace subdivision were leveled; the tornado continued northeast, destroying an apartment complex and leveling an auto parts store before intensifying to a peak intensity of 190 mph (310 km/h), numerous well-built homes were demolished, rows of houses were leveled and swept away. Break up. Try As it entered Washington, the tornado became violent as some homes in the Woodridge Trace subdivision were leveled; the tornado continued northeast, destroying an apartment complex and leveling an auto parts store before intensifying to a peak intensity of 190 mph (310 km/h). Numerous well-built homes were demolished, and rows of houses were leveled and swept away.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• fluctuating between EF2 to EF3 strength and, not to
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)

Meteorological setup

• The development supercells and later squall lines was anticipated, and was also expected to impact the Mid-Atlantic states.
  • Missing "of" after "development".
  • The comma is unneeded. There is one subject. WP:CINS
    •  Done Added the "of" after development and got rid of the comma Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The system associated with those storms was to track eastward and strengthen, as a result, the SPC also issued a Day 3 slight risk earlier on November 15 for a large swath of the Eastern United States in effect for November 17. The first comma should be a semicolon.
  •  Done Replaced the comma with the semicolon Hoguert (Talk Page)
• across the United States High Plains Given the context, I think just saying "High Plains" is fine.
  •  Done Removed the "United State" part Hoguert (Talk Page)
• Model data indicated the weakening of the capping inversion coinciding with increasing instability and wind shear, which would lead to the enhanced potential for storms and tornadoes as the night progressed, the low-level jet strengthened. The final comma should be replaced for "and".
• The second half of this section needs some GEOCOMMAs.
  •  Done , -> andHoguert (Talk Page)
• Then at 10:52 am CDT, the supercell produced a strong but short-lived EF2 tornado over at Pekin, the tornado touched down north of State Highway 9, mainly uprooting trees and downing power lines before it crossed the Illinois River.
  • Comma after "then"
  • Split this sentence after "Pekin".
    •  Done Added the comma after "then" and split the sentence after Pekin Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado made it across the river into the residential side of Pekin. It rapidly strengthened to mid-range EF2 intensity roofs were ripped off of brick homes and an apartment complex suffered significant roof damage. A semicolon is needed after "intensity" and a comma after "homes".
  •  Done Added the semicolon Hoguert (Talk Page)
• Afterward, it weakened down, causing EF0-EF1 damage to trees and infrastructures before dissipating, the tornado was on the ground for two minutes and reached a width of 100 yards, no one died but ten people were injured by this tornado as well and $45 million in property damages. Major run-on issues. Try Afterward, it weakened down, causing EF0-EF1 damage to trees and infrastructures before dissipating. The tornado was on the ground for two minutes and reached a width of 100 yards; no one died, but the tornado caused ten injuries and $45 million in property damage.
  •  Done Fixed Hoguert (Talk Page)
• After the dissipation of the Pekin tornado, the super-cell quickly recycled and soon dropped the Washington tornado. Needs to be cited.
  •  Done Added a citation Hoguert (Talk Page)
• It crossed E Reed Road where a home sustained minor roof damages at EF1 strength, a nearby metal building also received some damage to its roof and exterior walls.
  • American English generally requires periods for abbreviations: E., Rd., etc. I'd prefer "Road" spelled out.
  • Replace comma with semicolon.
    •  Done replaced every Rd with Road and replaced the comma with a semicolon Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado crossed Berta Rd, and along this road, it intensified to an EF2 tornado as a home suffered significant damage, crossing E Spring Rd, the tornado entered a subdivision of homes at mid-range EF2 strength, several homes in this subdivision either sustained partial roof loss, or the second story walls of the home collapsed. Another run-on. Try The tornado crossed Berta Road; along this road, it intensified to an EF2 as a home suffered significant damage. Crossing E. Spring Road, the tornado entered a subdivision of homes at mid-range EF2 strength; several homes in this subdivision either sustained partial roof loss or collapse of second-story walls.
  •  Done fixed the run on Hoguert (Talk Page)
• An RV dealership had numerous vehicles damaged and flipped over, a two-story home had its roof ripped away, portions of the walls collapsed, a model home was shifted off its foundation and a manufactured home lost its roof. Reflow all punctuation: An RV dealership had numerous vehicles damaged and flipped over; a two-story home had its roof ripped away and portions of the walls collapsed; a model home was shifted off its foundation; and a manufactured home lost its roof.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• As the tornado moved northeast approaching I-55, it caused widespread tree damage that occurred near the road, the tornado lifted northwest of Symerton at 12:33 pm CDT. Another comma splice. Split this sentence.
  •  Done Making the statement after "road" a sentence. Hoguert (Talk Page)

Tornado summary

• "city proper of Washington" should be "city of Washington proper"
  •  Done Corrected Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado rapidly intensified to low-end EF4 strength leveling and partially sweeping away a couple of homes along English Oak St in the Woodridge Trace subdivision at 170 mph (270 km/h), Nearby homes suffered major structural damage, an 84-year-old U.S. army veteran suffered severe injuries here and later passed away from his injuries. Reflow punctuation to make this the two sentences it should be. The tornado rapidly intensified to low-end EF4 strengt,h leveling and partially sweeping away a couple of homes along English Oak St in the Woodridge Trace subdivision at 170 mph (270 km/h). Nearby homes suffered major structural damage; an 84-year-old man suffered severe injuries here and later died from his injuries.
  • Is it necessary to say he was a veteran?
  • Avoid "passed away" etc. in favor of "died": MOS:EUPH.
    •  Done Replaced U.S army veteran with "man" and "changed passed away" to "died" Hoguert (Talk Page)
• New After crossing I-74, the tornado uprooted and snapped many trees, then intensified to mid-range EF3 intensity with wind speeds up to 150 mph (241 km/h), collapsing the roof of a house into the structure, leveling most of it. try After crossing I-74, the tornado uprooted and snapped many trees. It then intensified to mid-range EF3 intensity with wind speeds up to 150 mph (241 km/h), causing the roof of a house to collapse into itself.
  •  Done Fixed Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado intensified further to mid-range EF4 strength as it struck the Georgetown Commons apartment complex along Georgetown Rd, completely destroying the top two stories, other nearby apartment buildings suffered major roof damage, trees were completely blown down, a truck in the parking lot of the apartment complex was lifted and wrapped violently around a tree, further north of the complex along the same road, a Lagondola Spaghetti house sustained severe roof damage from the tornado, due to the heavy structural damage, the sixteen apartment buildings and restaurant were later torn down. (Stopping here for now — will come back later.)
  • This is a run-on sentence. The tornado intensified further to mid-range EF4 strength as it struck the Georgetown Commons apartment complex along Georgetown Road; the top two stories were destroyed, and nearby apartment buildings suffered major roof damage. A truck in the parking lot was lifted and wrapped violently around a tree. Sixteen apartment buildings and a nearby restaurant that also sustained heavy damage were torn down.
    •  Done Fixed the run-on sentence Hoguert (Talk Page)
• Now moving at 65 mph (105 km/h), the tornado directly hit the Hillcrest Golf course, the building on the course was leveled, the tornado shredded trees and tore off the carpeting on the mini golf course, the golf course was later rebuilt and reopened almost two years later. Try Now moving at 65 mph (105 km/h), the tornado directly hit the Hillcrest Golf Course, which was closed for nearly two years following the storm. A building on the course property was leveled as the tornado shredded trees and tore off the carpeting on the minigolf course.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado crossed Washington Road into Washington Estates, sustaining estimated wind speeds of 180 mph (290 km/h), an Advance Auto Parts store alongside Washington Road was completely leveled by the tornado, multiple employees were inside when the building was flattened, but no one was injured.. Reflow punctuation: The tornado crossed Washington Road into Washington Estates, sustaining estimated wind speeds of 180 mph (290 km/h). An Advance Auto Parts store alongside Washington Road was leveled by the tornado; multiple employees were inside when the building was flattened, but no one was injured.
  • Also, "completely leveled" is redundant.
    •  Done Fixed and removed the redundancy Hoguert (Talk Page)
• What does "wind-rowed" mean?
  • Windrowing is a damage pattern left behind by a tornado where debris is blown into highly convergent lines Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado continued to travel northeast, leveling or sweeping away more homes from their foundations before leaving the city proper of Washington after crossing W Cruger Road. Citation needed.
  •  Done Fixed Hoguert (Talk Page)
• A farmstead on N Main St was destroyed and debris was partially swept off its foundation. Spell out "Street". Add comma after "destroyed"
  •  Done Replaced St with Street and added the comma Hoguert (Talk Page)
• I did a bunch here, but not all.
• The tornado crossed I-39 and directly impacted the Road Ranger truck stop northwest of Minonk, overturning several semi-trucks and damaging hundreds of other vehicles, there were no fatalities but three truck drivers were injured. The tornado crossed I-39 and directly impacted the Road Ranger truck stop northwest of Minonk, overturning several semi-trucks and damaging hundreds of other vehicles; there were no fatalities, but three truck drivers were injured.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado slightly weakened to high-end EF2, causing a home to lose its roof and the wall to partially collapse, cars were displaced a cell tower was completely crumpled and trees and power poles were snapped along Base Road before the tornado left Woodford county. Yet another run-on needing splitting. The tornado slightly weakened to high-end EF2, causing a home to lose its roof and the wall to partially collapse. Cars were displaced, a cell tower was completely crumpled, and trees and power poles were snapped along Base Road before the tornado left Woodford County.
  •  Done Fixed the sentence Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado maintained EF2 intensity as it stripped away a large portion of a home's roof along E 7th Road, small outbuildings were destroyed and several power poles were snapped, 1/2 mile west of Dana, a machinery shed was destroyed as the tornado weakened to EF1 strength. Try The tornado maintained EF2 intensity as it stripped away a large portion of a home's roof along E 7th Road. Small outbuildings were destroyed and several power poles were snapped. 0.5 miles (0.80 km) west of Dana, a machinery shed was destroyed as the tornado weakened to EF1 strength.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• The tornado produced a satellite tornado, it was rated an EFU due to being in open fields, and it traveled for 2.6 miles (4.2 km). The main tornado caused extensive tree damage, a large shed containing a fire engine was destroyed and the fire engine tipped over onto its side, eventually, the tornado dissipated a few miles east of Long Point. Try The tornado produced a satellite tornado, rated an EFU due to being in open fields, which traveled for 2.6 miles (4.2 km). The main tornado caused extensive tree damage; a large shed containing a fire engine was destroyed, tipping the engine onto its side. The tornado dissipated a few miles east of Long Point.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)

Video documentation

• Header should be sentence case (not "Video Documentation").
• No need for the level-3 header.
• And, frankly, no need for this section. There was a lot more video of this storm than this, and this might be undue.
  •  Done Section removed Hoguert (Talk Page)

Impacts

• The first paragraph needs reflow, totally. Try
  • The tornado caused nearly $1 billion worth of damage, $800 million of that in Washington and another $110 million in East Peoria. Final estimates, revised upward twice, revealed 1,484 damaged or destroyed homes; in addition, businesses were destroyed in Washington and East Peoria. Though the tornado tracked through rural areas in Woodford County, it inflicted $25 million in damage and destroyed 7 of 24 affected homes. Thousands of residents were left homeless, and 23,000 people lost power.
    •  Done Fixed and cut down Hoguert (Talk Page)
  • Move the injury info to paragraph two. Three people died from the tornado, with another 125 injured; the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Methodist Medical Center, both in Peoria, treated dozens of patients.
    •  Done Moved Hoguert (Talk Page)
• Even though the tornado went through densely-populated neighborhoods, only three people died, and we won't know the definitive reason why the fatalities were low, it's believed that, 1. A potential for a high-end tornado outbreak was being talked about, leaving people prepared, 2. The tornado outbreak occurred on a Sunday when people were either at Church or shopping for the holiday season, so not many people were at home when the tornadoes struck, 3. People were at home when the tornadoes struck and had basements or storm shelters, 4. There were ways people received warnings, either through Television or Social Media. This sounds like conjecture. It really needs to be attributed in-text to the NWS. Try
  • National Weather Service forecasters attributed the low death toll to the already highly publicized threat of a tornado outbreak; people being away from their homes, either at church or shopping, on a Sunday morning; the local prevalence of basements or storm shelters for those at home; and increased dissemination of weather warnings.
    •  Done Fixed and cut down Hoguert (Talk Page)

Aftermath

• I don't think it's necessary to say the president did not visit.
  •  Done Removed that statement Hoguert (Talk Page)
• This section could use a restructure. First paragraph: governmental response. Second paragraph: relief organization response. Third paragraph: public relief drives.
• President Obama never visited Washington but other politicians, like Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn and Illinois senator Dick Durbin, visited the city, Obama approved disaster funding for 15 counties in Illinois. Pat Quinn declared seven counties as disaster areas. Try State politicians including governor Pat Quinn and senator Dick Durbin visited Washington. President Barack Obama authorized disaster funding for 15 counties in Illinois, while Governor Quinn declared seven counties as disaster areas.
  •  Done Hoguert (Talk Page)
• On December 19, 2013, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency requested federal assistance for the local governments in the nine counties that were ravaged by the tornadoes of November 17, this original request had $6.1 million in local government and electrical cooperative expenses, a few weeks later on January 9, 2014, FEMA sent a letter to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, stating how the devastation in Washington wasn't "severe" enough for federal help and therefore they wouldn't provide any aid for the state. Split! On December 19, 2013, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency requested $6.1 million in federal assistance for the local governments and electrical cooperative in the nine counties affected by the tornadoes of November 17. FEMA responded on January 9, 2014, stating that the devastation in Washington was not "severe" enough to merit federal help.
  •  Done Splited the sentence Hoguert (Talk Page)
• FEMA also told the mayor and other state officials that the debris cleanup after the tornado was not going to be paid for by the federal government, FEMA also thought that the federal government didn't need to pay for the damages done to the roads, curbs, and sidewalks by vehicles helping to clear the street, FEMA would later say Illinois's damage assessments on the tornadoes wasn't qualified for any federal payment, Manier points out how broken the federal guidelines are when calculating damages. This is not a sentence. This is a paragraph.
• Made some more tweaks here too.
  •  Done Fixed Hoguert (Talk Page)

Recovery

• Nix the Maurer-Stutz item, which is basically just PR puff.
• "(City Name) Strong" is so trite post-Boston 2013 that it's not worth bringing up.
• Check the tense of "as of 2018"-type items that are stated in present tense.
• Can we get 2020 Census figures?
  •  Done Removed the Maurer-Stutz statement, removed "Washington Strong", added the 2020 censusHoguert (Talk Page)

Bad move

I suggest that you revert the move adding the ",", as it breaks traditional tornado naming conventions and is not grammatically proper. SirMemeGod  14:18, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

Nevermind. SirMemeGod  14:57, 20 October 2024 (UTC)