ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart Public Library announced it will hold a community presentation by an Indiana author regarding the 60th anniversary of the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak on April 11 at 4 p.m.

The visiting author is Tipton-native Janis Thornton, who has written several books about Indiana history and true crime, in addition to three novels.

Thornton will share excerpts from her book, “The 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes in Indiana,” answer questions, and listen to any community memories of the disaster.

April 11 is the anniversary of the outbreak which left 50 people dead in Elkhart County and over 100 throughout the Midwest, organizers said.

In 1965, two tornadoes touched down minutes apart between Elkhart and Goshen in the Dunlap area, before striking the Midway Trailer Court and Sunnyside neighborhood. 

Library officials say Thornton researched and visited numerous libraries and historical societies throughout the state to write her book.

Organizers say copies of the book will be available for purchase.

The event is free and open to the public.

The library is located at 300 S. Second St. in Elkhart.

You can learn more about this event and other upcoming events on the EPL's website.

From the National Weather Service:

On Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, Indiana was one of six Midwest states to be raked by deadly tornadoes. In all, 47 tornadoes killed 271 people and injured over 1,500. This was the fourth deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history and the deadliest of all Indiana outbreaks.

In Indiana, 137 people were killed and over 1,200 injured by ten tornadoes during the late afternoon and evening hours that day.

One of the most violent tornadoes occurred at Midway Trailer Court near Goshen. A second tornado struck minutes later near Goshen at Rainbow Lake. Another tornado formed just south of South Bend and tracked to just south of Elkhart. This tornado killed 45 in the town of Dunlap and 33 of those killed were at a trailer park. Other Northern Indiana locations hit by tornadoes included Lapaz, Koontz Lake, Wyatt, Wakarusa and Wanatah.