Book: What Stands in a Storm (2011 tornado outbreak)

Great book

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Rolling into town 10 minutes after the tornado and not being able to go further than the 15th/McFarland intersection is something I'll never forget.

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I would have been shortly behind you. I reached 15th/McFarland about 15 minutes after the tornado passed. Watched it go through from south Tuscaloosa and knew it was going to be bad. I worked at Bruno's at the time, so I jumped in my truck and got there as quickly as I could. 15th was closed shortly after I made it through, so I had to take Veterans to get home. One of the few moments I remember of that day is passing McFarland Mall by the Home Depot, looking west and clearly being able to see Bryant Denny and Coleman.

My mom worked for the schools. A guy I worked with had a wife that worked for the hospital. As bad as it was, it could have been much worse. I remember the crazy numbers of 500 dead and the panic shortly after of how bad it was. A slight shift leads the tornado either straight through campus or over a much more populated McFarland/Skyland. While all lives matter and I wouldn't wish a tornado on anyone, the path taken saved many lives that day.

I'd also like to say this: I've heard quite a few times through documentaries and other stories that "4/27/11 started like any other day." That's not true. Going in, Spann and the other meteorologists in Birmingham were giving it the "once in a lifetime" treatment. I remember waking up that morning at 5 am with the sirens going off. They deserve much credit for having that forecast pegged for a several days and making sure the community was aware.

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and was so excited when that thing rolled through (it was my first tornado experience after all). I remember watching in awe from the Public Works parking deck, not really thinking about the human toll the tornado was dishing out.

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Yeah, i feel you. My good buddy took a video of the tornado from Houndstooth condos on 15th street, and his commentary is that of excitement. He posted the video on youtube and got blasted in the comments, but it really is just natural to get such a rush from a powerful spectacle of nature like that you will never see again most likely.

Here's the video:
LINK

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I'd also like to say this: I've heard quite a few times through documentaries and other stories that "4/27/11 started like any other day." That's not true.

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Agreed. I remember distinctly saying to my friends the day before that we were going to "get shat on tomorrow." Never could have imagined it would have been that bad, though.