“Washington County, all units I’ve got a tornado on the ground Highway one at Walmart, Highway one at Walmart, we’ve got a tornado on the ground.” This week marks the 25th anniversary of the May 15th EF3 tornado that went through Washington. The tornado developed two miles Southwest of Washington and produced a 30-mile-long continuous path of damage and debris as it moved to the Northeast at nearly 30 mph. The tornado weakened and lifted before reaching I-80 near West Branch shortly before 6 pm. The tornado continued Northeast across Cedar County, producing another 15 miles of isolated damage that was not continuous. In Washington, extensive damage was reported to businesses, a church, numerous homes, an apartment complex housing elderly residents, and a livestock sale barn. Fourteen single-family homes were destroyed, another fourteen received major damage, and forty-five reported minor damage. Three multi-family housing units were destroyed, and two received major damage. Twenty-six sheds and garages were destroyed or sustained major damage. Across Washington County, fourteen farmsteads were hit by the tornado, with damage ranging from moderate to heavy. Utility damage was listed at $218,000. In the city of Washington twenty seven individuals sustained minor injuries requiring medical treatment. One person was hospitalized for treatment of injuries he received when his automobile was picked up and rolled over by the tornado.