***NOT FOR BROADCAST***Contact Brett Adair with Live Storms Media to license.brett@livestormsmedia.comPine forest completely mowed down by an apparent violen. Im saddened that AL has once again been devastated. A series of tornadoes hatched by early spring "super cell" storms tore across Alabama and moved into Georgia early Friday, leaving at least five people dead amid ruins of wrecked homes . The radar site and Brent, about 8 miles to the northeast, were in the crosshairs. Witnesses say they saw a large, wedge tornado sweep through the area destroying some homes, but thankfully sparing lives. At a certain point, the measurement of wind speed no longer matters. Killed one person in Wilsonville. Tornado damage in Old Kingston and Marbury,AL. [8:05 PM]: An EF-1 tornado was confirmed by @NWSHuntsville meteorologists today across portions of Lawrence, Morgan, And Limestone counties. These are accounts of those two killer storms on the evening of May 27, 1973. It was a long night. The tornado crossed Highway 63 South and neared the Wind Creek State Park area. We lived in Columbiana and were about to move into our new house. Flood Products Description It truly looked like when folks say a bomb went off. He was gracious enough today to share his acccount. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Flash Flood Warnings I was stationed at old Craig AFB in Selma and was a T-37 instructor pilot. On the 24th, an F4 developed in Oklahoma, killing 2. Suddenly, Bob and I felt very sharp pain in our ears. John did some stringer work for UPI covering Alabama football at Legion Field, way back when, which he says was lots of fun. The weather service noted that the damage here, rated high-end EF-2, could be partly due to the interaction of the tornado with the lake surface, as well as the exposed nature of these homes.. The familiar white dome that covered the antenna simply vanished. We didnt know what to do. Seconds later, I felt what reminded me of fine grain sand hitting my face and arms. Storm damage in Brent Alabama The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Highway Patrol Division reports the following road conditions: Bibb County - Reports of trees down on Alabama 5 South of Brent. Preliminary storm damage rated EF-2 and EF-3 from Thursday's tornadoes Several days later, Centreville Press published Jim Oakley and I followed the path of the storm in a plane from Brent to Columbiana. CoCoRaHS, Local Research and Outreach It looked like the town had been scrambled like eggs. Yes, I remember it well. I was the lead instructor that morning in a two-ship formation training mission. His photo on the front page of the Centreville Press that week showing Brent Baptist Church, sign, and clock won the Best News Photo from the Alabama Press Association for 1973. My dad stood beside Hwy. Daily Rainfall Plots A moment or two later it was also announced that the Brent Church had been hit. He worked darkroom for a while at the old Waldrup Studio in Mountain Brook. Brent tornado flipped our trailer in Wilsonville. Hazardous Weather Outlook, Current Conditions But when i saw this site about the Brent Tornado I had to write. A tornado also tore through Marengo County, leaving behind a trail of debris: Tornado damage tonight at Faunsdale in Marengo County. Our car was destroyed. He lives near Clanton now and still does some photography work from time to time. After being outside for a couple minutes, we went back into the station. Tornado damage in Alabama, 5 killed: Latest photos, videos @NWSHuntsville @DanielleDozier @BenSmith_WHNT @katemckennawx @EmilyOwenWX @BradTravisWAFF @spann #alwx #hunwx @LimestoneEMA pic.twitter.com/iF9wqHMQe4. Similar damage was seen in northwest Elmore County as the tornado neared the Coosa River. Video shows damaged buildings in Bertram, Texas from a possible tornado. In Vestavia Hills, a roof was damaged when a tree hit it and landed nearby: In Vestavia Hills, a roof was damaged when a tree fell and hit it. Public Information Statement This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. NWS Birmingham, Alabama465 Weathervane RoadCalera, AL 35040205-664-3010Comments? According to the NOAA representative that conducted the storm survey,wind speed may well have surpassedthe threshold of F5 strength in areas near the Brent Baptist Church. I remember the devastation from this tornado well. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. *Note: This story was updated to reflect the adjusted path of the Autauga tornado, which upon further analysis from the National Weather Service had a path length of 82.31 miles. The storms that killed at least six peoplecontinued passing through the region early Friday morning, bringing an EF-4 tornado to northwestern Newnan, Ga. that left the city looking like a "war zone.". We retreated to the hall. I assume that this structure doesnt exist anymore as a result of this storm back in 1973. The most stunning tornado of the event was the long-track tornado that carved a path of damage spanning 80.38 miles over its 98 minute lifespan from Hale to Shelby Counties. 216 buildings were destroyed, 570 buildings were damaged, 97 mobile homes were destroyed, and 45 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Baaculaureate services had ended 12 minutes before the tornado came through Greensboro and destroyed the old Southern University which housed Southern Academy at the time. Tornadoes pummel Alabama, killing at least 5 - CNBC Stunning imagery from theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)GOES East satellite captured the Thursday "supercell" that produced a large tornado in Alabama near Brent and Centerville. Tropical Cyclone Reports, Warnings and Other Products I have many vivid images of that morning that have stuck with me throughout my life. Winter Products Description The radar dish had been blown from its tower and lay on the ground no more than 20 feet from the office Dale and I had jumped into. Me and my family were driving back to Tuscaloosa from Opelika on that Sunday afternoon. May 27, 1973, 34 years ago today, was also a Sunday. . The night before the storm, he was covering a rodeo in Centreville. 03-25-2021 Centreville and Brent, AL - Tornado Damage Drone, Bibb pic.twitter.com/YyTHNV3VJw. A steady stream of warnings went out from West Oxmoor that day based on teletypes from Centreville radar. A pickup truck was thrown 120 yards to the northeast, and a shallow crater was formed where it landed. "We've Been Hit" May 27, 2012 Bill Murray, weather historian, article. In Brent, a church sustained damage to its facade: Gradient wind damage at Pine View Baptist Church. I will never forget it, I remember the storm. I will never forget this particuler Tornado. There were pine needles driven into bark of trees. This email from Chris Golden of Tuscaloosa, used here with his permission. The tornado continued northeastward into Tallapoosa County, where EF-1-caliber damage was observed. In Brent near the railroad was two huge tanks that belonged to Olen Belchers saw mill was blown several hundred feet. Microbursts The tornado was a mile wide at that point and we had no idea we were driving right into it. My dad was the pastor of Centreville Baptist Church. It sounded like a deep roar and I could feel the house slightly vibrate and windows rattle. The swarm of storms came. It is dedicated to the people of Brent, Centreville, and all those affected in the many locations. Winter Weather, Special Programs The staff at Centreville radar that Sunday afternoon were Dale Black and Bob Coe. It has a mayor/council form of government. The storm that spawned that tornado had an even longer track. It truly was a miracle. On Sunday night, May 27, 1973, I saw serious tornado damage for the first time in my life, and it changed my life. The Centreville Press published a picture of a car sitting on top of a gas station. Drought Monitor A string of those tornado reports likely came from one storm, one long-lived supercell storm. Make sure you know about the #1 weather-related killer: RIP CURRENTS! A mile wide WEDGE tornado touched down on March 25, 2021 during a PDS , Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch that was issued for parts of Mississippi and Alabama. Justice prevails. On May 27, 1973, a category 4 tornado tore through the Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, and Greensboro area, leaving 90 percent of the city of Brent destroyed. All NOAA, Long TrackF-4 Tornado - Linhares added that using that definition, 95 of 2,505 tornadoes, or 3.8 percent, qualify as long-track tornadoes. We watched as the wind whipped up and a cow and a tractor, among other debris, flew by as if they were lightweight toys. A year earlier I had been called to preach. My brothers girlfriend at the time , Jane Bamburg lost their home and whole neighborhood in Brent including a small church . He swallowed a quick cup of coffee and a biscuit and grabbed his turtle shell hat. At Least 5 Deaths, Extensive Damage Reported in Alabama, Georgia as So glad the community banded together & rebuilt! The tornado lifted near Mount Cheaha. Yet to be added to the list is the Jan. 12, 2023, Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado, with an updated track length of 82.31 miles. For example, from Thursday's storms, there are just over 30 tornado reports in Alabama. The tornado crossed the river near Neely Road on the west bank and Kelly Road on the east bank. Bob and I had fairly new vehicles and several windows in each car were blown out. Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data I interviewed a number of long-time residents of the town for my article. May 27, 1973. The tornado produced damage in Greensboro, Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, Columbiana, Wilsonville, Childersburg and many areas in between. According to records, the largest tornado in the Brent area was an F4 in 1973 that caused 199 injuries and 7 deaths. #ALwx pic.twitter.com/KReKMA1wPj, Not much better in the light of day#ALwx pic.twitter.com/bFa9XvHZfI, This is Theodore, Alabama Rangeline road. The sights and sounds are still fresh in my mind; almost like it happened yesterday. He was running to get help because he was at the Brent Baptist Church and he said the whole roof just fell in on the congregation. Alabama Tornadoes 1973 - National Weather Service The tornado hit several homes along Sandy Ridge Road, where some of the deaths occurred. The wind had picked me up slightly and I felt as if I were floating down the hill. HALE CO, Ala. (WBRC) - Pictures and reports of damage continue to come in from Hale County and Bibb county after a violent long trek tornado moved through the state Thursday afternoon. It plowed through the school and pulled up an extremely old oak tree , and let it go on top of the store . US Dept of Commerce I had turned 12 years old the day before and I still remember what happened just like it was yesterday. The city has since rebuilt, and a site by the city hall was dedicated to the memory of those who died. I was then awakened somewhere around 4:30-5:00 by their phone ringing. We watched Dale pull out of the parking lot on onto the road. #alwx https://t.co/5yJdHOvAWY. The power did go out and people lit candles. More than 12,000 acres of timber was destroyed. I had no idea what it was. The weather service has a list of the longest tracks for tornadoes in Alabama. StormReady The three of us were unhurt, but not unaffected. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. However, one man was killed when the roof and walls collapsed. Partial roadway blockage on U.S. 82 near the 85 mile marker. The SPC issued a HIGH Risk for a tornado outbreak with strong long track tornadoes.This is footage from the Brent, AL long track tornado. At 60 years old now, Im still trying to comprehend what I saw that morning. ALABAMA TORNADO Brent, AL (Mile Wide EF3) March 25, 2021 HIGH RISK Severe t-storm (yellow) and tornado (red) warnings issued by the National Weather Service in a 24-hour period ending 8 a.m. EDT, March 26, 2021. My family lived in Cottondale, but we camped at Lake Payne numerous times. Updated: Mar. The meat house next to their house was leveled. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Even from 8000 you could see the amount of destruction that had taken place and knew immediately it was not good and that it would be a long road to recovery for both the town itself and the people it effected. He worked the radar controls, scanning up and down the height of the storm and plotted its anticipated path on the radar screen. Forecast Discussion 90% of the town of Brent was destroyed killing 5 people and injuring 56. We walked outside to inspect the damage. National Outlooks It is the sixth longest track tornado of record in U.S. history. One of my first big assignments was to go to Brent a few days after the tornado hit and write a story about what was going on in the devastated town. Severe Weather Preparedness In some ways, its something I needed to see. But, It was the 27th which proved to be the deadliest for Alabama. The weather service said that the damage intensified as the tornado neared the Autauga-Elmore county line, where several site-built homes lost most of their roofs along County Road 68 East near Poplar Springs Road. In fact, there were three just last year. The Brent Tornado was and remains the longest track tornado in Alabama recorded history. We were in our car for at least two hours before the rescue people could dig through the piles of debris to get to us. Moments after the storm had passed, even though we knew it was very strong, we had no idea what had taken place a mere mile or so away. My wife stayed home in Montgomery that afternoon with a our new baby. With nothing left to do at the radar site, Dale, Bob, and I headed to our cars to try to get home. Summer Safety Campaign In addition to the obvious property damage, the tornado . So he continued down the road, dodging the trees and lines. Some of us went to church at Pine Flat just north of Lake Payne. "In the 16-second timelapse, you can see the lightning that accompanied the storm during March 25," the agency wrote Friday on Twitterin a message accompanying the 16-second clip. He reluctantly let me go. The Brent Tornado went on to kill 5 people in Brent and continued to Mt. That was certainly the same parent storm that produced what is likely to be more than one tornado along its trek across our area, weather service meteorologist Gerald Satterwhite said Friday via email. I begged to go with him. Dale was the radar operator. May God comfort those that are hurting & give them the strength that they need to carry on. You could feel the car trying to turn over but it stayed upright. My Papa (BB Elam) was at church at the Brent Bible Methodist Church. He also has an excellent website about the day. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Drought Monitor Several days later, Centreville Press published Jim Oakley and I followed the path of the storm in a plane from Brent to Columbiana. While Selma itself was not hit by an actual tornado that night, Im sure one came very close and just did not touch down as there was a green hue to the sky and rain driven sideways just plain scary! Unbelievable, but the roof to the apartments was blown through a gabled wall about making hole about 12 inches above the window without breaking the window.
What Is Mona Gnader Doing Now,
Alan Pardew Daughters,
Articles B