Started By
Message
Five years ago today....
Posted on 4/27/16 at 1:12 am
Posted on 4/27/16 at 1:12 am
The southeastern United States, particularly the states of Mississippi and Alabama, became the target of some of the most violent tornadoes in the history of the planet.
219 tornadoes touched down in a 24-hour period (a record) and 317 people were killed (with 249 of those fatalities occurring in Alabama).
The following video is a montage I put together highlighting footage from the most destructive storms of the outbreak.
The 2011 Super Outbreak
219 tornadoes touched down in a 24-hour period (a record) and 317 people were killed (with 249 of those fatalities occurring in Alabama).
The following video is a montage I put together highlighting footage from the most destructive storms of the outbreak.
The 2011 Super Outbreak
19
Posted on 4/27/16 at 1:19 am to RollTide1987
Damn ... time flies. I remember exactly where I was when the big one hit and ran down I-20.
That was a crazy day over in that part of the country. Looked like a war zone by the time some of us got over there with blankets and water and food.
That was a crazy day over in that part of the country. Looked like a war zone by the time some of us got over there with blankets and water and food.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 1:22 am to scrooster
I was in downtown Tuscaloosa watching the storm pass just to the south of me. The next day when I went down to the affected areas it was like stepping onto an old World War I battlefield. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 1:49 am to RollTide1987
Thanks for sharing that video. A couple of clips reminded me of my first time hearing a tornado siren which happened to be in Marion, Alabama 14 or 15 years ago.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 2:55 am to TiptonInSC
RIP those who lost their lives. What is most interesting to me are the Condos, neighborhoods and businesses where these were filmed from. I'm sure the media however found a bad area with trash to interview people from both states to make us look stupid. You know damn well what I speak of.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:22 am to RollTide1987
I've always described it looking like 15th street was hit by artillery. Walking around in the minutes after it passed through was the most surreal moment of my life. Can't believe it's already been five years. I'm very lucky to be here.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:25 am to RollTide1987
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:26 am to RollTide1987
I wasn't there for it but my girlfriend had a friend die during the big tornado in Tuscaloosa. Really sad.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:45 am to RollTide1987
There were actually 252 killed in Alabama.
It is also important to remember that Tuscaloosa and Birmingham were not the only places hit, and there were many EF-4 and EF-5 tornadoes that day. There is a town in NW Alabama called Hackleburg that was hit by an EF-5 and was virtually wiped off of the map. Also places like Cullman, Ohatchee, Rainsville, Cordova, and many others. Was a remarkable, and historic day.
As someone who has a deep passion for weather, it was a day that changed my life and how I looked at weather.
It is also important to remember that Tuscaloosa and Birmingham were not the only places hit, and there were many EF-4 and EF-5 tornadoes that day. There is a town in NW Alabama called Hackleburg that was hit by an EF-5 and was virtually wiped off of the map. Also places like Cullman, Ohatchee, Rainsville, Cordova, and many others. Was a remarkable, and historic day.
As someone who has a deep passion for weather, it was a day that changed my life and how I looked at weather.
This post was edited on 4/27/16 at 7:46 am
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:48 am to RollTide1987
Lived off of lakeshore in hoover at the time. I had just moved to AL in January of '11. We didn't get the brunt of things like tuscaloosa but even the bit we got was still pretty scary.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:51 am to RollTide1987
I remember being there on 14th ave. The big tornado veered ever so slightly south, right before it got to the campus area. If it hadn't, it would have wiped out an awful lot of cheaply built student housing in the 13th street area. Instead it took out a lot of businesses along 15th street and McFarland
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:54 am to RollTide1987
I had no idea that many people lost their lives. Let's pray it never happens again.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 8:02 am to RollTide1987
I was suppose to drive to Memphis that day from Georgia. I decided to hold off the night before because I kept seeing how bad it might get. I'm greatful I did. I would have been driving through Tuscaloosa during the time of the tornado.
Driving through Birmingham and Tuscaloosa the next day was so eery. I took a detour to Smithville, MS on the way back to Georgia. Nothing was left in that town.
Driving through Birmingham and Tuscaloosa the next day was so eery. I took a detour to Smithville, MS on the way back to Georgia. Nothing was left in that town.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 8:18 am to UAtide11
quote:
I remember being there on 14th ave. The big tornado veered ever so slightly south, right before it got to the campus area. If it hadn't, it would have wiped out an awful lot of cheaply built student housing in the 13th street area. Instead it took out a lot of businesses along 15th street and MacFarland
It really is amazing more people didn't lose their lives in Tuscaloosa. The Storm just missed about 6 major student Apartment complexes plus hundreds of houses. The worst part was not knowing anything. We lost power at my exs house an hour or so before the storm hit. We didn't really have an understanding of how powerful it really was until we looked outside when it was by Central and saw huge pieces of debris flying around.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 8:40 am to Patton
It was a nightmare of a day. Whole towns practically wiped off the face of the Earth.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 9:06 am to TiptonInSC
were you in school?
Posted on 4/27/16 at 9:09 am to RollTide1987
My dad had an old home that got destroyed in Alberta City where he grew up. My sister, thankfully, was nowhere near the tornado when she was in school.
It was awful. McFarland Blvd was a war zone.
It was awful. McFarland Blvd was a war zone.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 9:11 am to RollTide1987
So sad.
Amazing how the surrounding area pulled together in relief.
Amazing how the surrounding area pulled together in relief.
This post was edited on 4/27/16 at 9:13 am
Posted on 4/27/16 at 9:42 am to Jenar Boy
These two books are the best reads about the tornadoes that day.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 9:44 am to RollTide1987
Just finished the video.
Good job. Good video.
Good job. Good video.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News