Full episode
186: Prom
Act One

Tornado Prom

Susan Burton reports on Prom Night 2001 in Hoisington, Kansas, a town of about 3,000. While the seniors danced, a tornado hit the town, destroying about a third of it. When they emerged from the dance, they discovered what had happened, and in the weeks that followed, they tried to explain to themselves why the tornado hit where it did. (25 minutes)

Song:

“Tornado on the Dance Floor” by Greg Hill, Matt Shupe and Jason Bitner (written for This American Life)