ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- One of Robins AFB’s worst natural disasters took place on April 30, 1953, when a tornado struck Middle Georgia and Robins AFB. Particularly hard hit was the Materiel Facilities Division and family housing. The tornado hit at 5:12 p.m. just as thousands of employees were leaving work. While only one person died at Robins, in the Middle Georgia area a total of 18 people died, 350 were injured, and 1000 were left homeless, along $10 million in damages occurred due to the tornado.