This Special report for the WFIE discusses the damage of the June 2, 1990, tornadoes that affected Petersburg, Indiana, Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and various other areas. It features helicopter footage, interviews with residents, officials, and emergency responders, and ongoing weather updates detailing the storms’ aftermath.
Notes by Jake Vollmer, 460 History of Broadcasting, Spring 2024
00:00 Video begins. WFIE Newswatch announces special report for tornado damage in tri-state area.
00:10 Rick Notter is introduced, and tornado footage from tri-state area is shown as Notter describes the damage.
00:25 Notter introduces himself back in WFIE studio and describes the damage and death count from previous night’s storms.
***1:03 WFIE Helicopter footage shows the aerial damage of Petersburg, Indiana as Notter describes the damage.
2:30 Dan Katz introduced live in Petersburg, Indiana, describing more of the damage in Peterburg.
3:52 Mayor Jack Kim introduced to discuss damage, thanks the news media for providing tornado safety advice in previous night.
5:09 John Bailey of the national guard is introduced by Dan Katz, discusses recovery efforts.
5:45 More helicopter footage of damage is shown.
6:10 Back to Rick Notter in the WFIE studio
6:38 Larry Potash introduced alongside Rick Notter.
7:02 Mrs. Harris is interviewed outside of her destroyed home.
7:29 Erletta Link is interviewed about barely escaping the twister.
8:29 Back to Larry Potash in the studio
11:55 Rick Notter in studio, introduces Hamilton Northcutt who details the other areas affected by the storms.
12:23 Footage of the tornado from Albion
12:38 Davida Lenser interviewed about her footage of the tornado
12:52 More storm footage and interviews
13:29 George and Georganna Iles are interviewed outside of their homes in Albion.
14:07 Policeman Dennis Cowling describes tornado damage at Luber Finer facility.
14:38 Back to Notter and Northcutt in the studio
15:25 Alan McDonald introduced in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and he describes the tornado damage there.
15:45 Peggy Thombaugh is interviewed, describes how she kept safe during previous night’s storms.
15:59 Mrs. Gould is interviewed, details previous night and how her family hid in basement
16:18 Brad Gould interviewed.
***16:45 Back to Rick Notter in studio, now joined by Kirk Clyatt, who states that the tornados are the worst in the previous decade.
17:12 Doppler radar from the previous night is shown.
18:43 Kirk Clyatt explains science behind tornados and what “tornado alley” is.
19:05 Kirk Clyatt provides tornado safety tips.
19:35 Clyatt shows regional radar.
21:20 Clyatt gives that day and upcoming weather forecast.
21:44 Clyatt joins Rick Notter back in studio.
22:10 Dan Katz reintroduced in Petersburg and interviews Petersburg Elementary School principal Steve Meadors.
23:02 Back to Rick Notter in the studio
23:22 Craig Hoffman introduced in Bedford, Indiana.
23:43 Bedford resident Bill Reynolds interviewed .
23:58 Bedford resident Rose Pridemore interviewed
24:25 More Bedford residents interviewed about storm damage
24:44 Ken Marshall interviews residents Floyds Knob who had been damaged by storm.
26:22 Rick Notter explains how people can help those who have been hurt by the storms.
28:09 More home footage of storms from the previous night is shown.
28:29 WFIE Special Report outro
28:31 Home footage is shown as outro music plays.
29:25 WFIE Newswatch introduction, Rick Notter details tornado damage in various counties, one person confirmed dead in Browns, Illinois
32:02 Jeff Lyons in the WFIE weather center provides more details and weather report.
33:35 Kirk Clyatt gives recap of recent weather and upcoming weather forecast.
35:24 Rick Notter provides more information on the storms.
35:43 Alan McDonald describes storm damage from Mt. Carmel, Illinois, as footage of the damage is shown.
36:26 Alan McDonald interviews with multiple residents from Mt. Carmel are shown.
38:26 Advertisement break (McDonalds, Eye-Mart)
39:29 Rick Notter in studio, details “A League of Their Own” production being postponed in Evansville, Indiana due to inability to cast a lead, Don Poole lawsuit.
40:55 Winning lottery numbers are shown for Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.
41:13 More advertisements (Long John Silvers, Old National Bank, YMCA
42:41 Rick Notter and Kirk Clyatt in studio, lightning hit one of WFIE’s poles making it difficult to get outside signal, Clyatt discusses upcoming weather
44:51 Clyatt continues to discuss weather forecast, shows tornado forecasts compared to upcoming forecasts.
49:24 Jeff Lyons introduced in weather center, gives current weather update.
50:16 More advertisements (Chrysler-Plymouth, Pizza Hut)
51:19 Rick Notter in studio, still in tornado-watch, gives brief upcoming forecast.
52:29 More advertisements (Hardees, Kings)
***53:30 Dave Nichols gives high school sports report, postponed high school baseball games, more baseball scores, gives MLB scores, Indiana high school boys state track finals.
55:44 More advertisements (Hoosier Millionaire, Robert-John & Associates)
***56:46 Back to Dave Nichols in studio, gives NBA scores
*** 57:08 Michael Jordan interview about upcoming game seven against Detroit Pistons.
57:55 Rick Notter recaps more of the damage from storms, home-footage shown from Albion, Illinois, one fatality confirmed, Mt. Carmel tornado footage shown, Petersburg was the worst hit town and is being closed off by the police.
59:05 Jeff Lyons current weather update, states that the worst is now past.
59:37 Rick Notter ends segment and introduces Saturday Night Live.
1:00:09 Weather advisory alert, Rick Notter gives brief storm recap.
1:00:54 Hamilton Northcutt is joined in Brown, Illinois, showing and describing damage from storms, details the death of one woman, more home-footage from Brown is shown, residents provide brief recounts from the storm.
***1:03:30 Rick Notter and Hamilton Northcutt discuss what Northcutt saw firsthand.
1:04:45 Home-footage of tornado is shown, Notter states no injuries reported in Mt. Carmel.
1:05:27 Back to Notter in studio, details areas with no power, three people killed in Bedford, unconfirmed report about two people killed in rural area of Petersburg, Petersburg nursing home hit.
Website Clips:
This intro clip tells the number of storms and how bad the damage truly is, along with how they plan to cover it:
IC: 00:00:36 “There were 15 reports of tornadoes that touched down as many as 50 times.”
OC00:00:58:27 “Our news crews have been working around the clock to cover the devastation.”
This clip explains the true severity of these storms and how they were the worst storms in recent memory:
IC: 00:16:48:13 “And they're saying this is worse than the worst in more than a decade.”
OC: 00:17:43:12 “Usually think of a thunderstorm as being a big one if it's got tops of 30 to 40,000ft.”
This clip is important because although it mentions the damage, it tells the viewers that the worst of the storm is likely now gone and provides a feeling of safety after such a brutal storm.
IC: 00:32:00:15 “As you might have guessed, this is one of the largest tornado outbreaks we've had in the Tri-State in several years.”
OC: 00:32:36:12 “I believe, though, that most of the energy from the storm is now passing on off to our east.”