Remembering the 1964 Tornado 64 years later

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - 62 years after a deadly tornado tore through Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base, the impact of that day and the way it was covered, still resonates across Texoma.

In 1964, News Channel 6 broadcast the storm live, giving viewers a rare, real-time look at a dangerous tornado as it moved through the area. For many, it was more than just coverage, it was a warning.

The tornado touched down just after 2:30 p.m., carving a destructive path through Wichita Falls before moving toward Oklahoma. Lives were changed in a matter of minutes.

For then-young cameraman Carl Nichols, the day began like any other.

“When we first picked it up, we didn’t expect it to do anything that serious. We were young and didn’t have a care in the world. It just went from Freemore Valley over into Sunset Terrace by City View ISD, and then it went on the base, disappearing into Oklahoma,” Nichols said.

What happened next would become a defining moment in local broadcast history.

Nichols and the News Channel 6 team made the split-second decision to keep rolling, bringing the tornado to viewers live on television.

“We didn’t know whether to stay with it or run. It was all happening so fast that we really didn’t have a whole lot of opportunity to develop fear or a plan of action,” Nichols said.

With little time to think, the crew focused on capturing what was unfolding in front of them.

In the aftermath, Nichols said the lasting impact wasn’t just the storm itself, but what it revealed.

“I think if you had to take away anything, it would be the extent of destruction and the need of doing something to be prepared,” Nichols said.

Decades later, advancements in technology have transformed how storms are covered.

Lightweight cameras, mobile equipment and live-streaming capabilities allow journalists to move quickly and safely, but in 1964, that wasn’t the case.

Nichols and the news channel 6 team maneuvered a nearly 200-pound General Electric camera into position, capturing history in real time.