Shocking Tornado Death toll

Hackleburg, AL tornado 27 April 2011

The shocking death toll of the Super tornado outbreak of 27 April 2011 is not because people did not take shelter.  Thanks to today's technology, long track tornadoes have long lead times.  The reason for so many deaths was because of the sheer strength of the tornadoes and that homes and businesses in this part of the country cannot have basements.  Across the south, the water table under the soil is very close to the surface of the ground.  Digging a basement for a home would be very difficult because it would fill with water.   The victims of the tornado took shelter in a central room.  Unfortunately to survive an EF4-EF5 tornado you must be underground.   Some of these poor people never stood a chance as even the plumbing fixtures to their homes were twisted or completely swept away by the tornado.  The scars left from this tornado will take decades to fade.  My prayers go out for anyone who is affected by the violent weather over the past week.

St. Louis EF4 tornado 22 April 2011

Last Friday night I turned on The Weather Channel to check the radar for the local area.   To my shock, I watched as Dr. Greg Forbes and Jim Cantore were analyzing a supercell thunderstorm heading from New Melle, MO into the northwestern suburbs of St. Louis.   As I stood in shock, my thoughts immediately turned to my mother.   The trajectory of the storm had it moving to within 3 miles of my mother's home.  I ran to the phone and dialed her number.   I told her to please take shelter from this because it was going to be very close.  She assured me she would and I told her I would call her later.  My brain understands that my mother is very capable at taking care of herself, however my mom has limitations due to being confined to a wheelchair due to having her legs amputated in 1996-1997 due to complications from diabetes.

As radar continued to update this monster storm, the hook echo became more pronounced as the storm moved into northern St. Louis County.  As the return updated again, a purple debris ball right in the center of the hook echo on radar.   My heart sank.  Panic is beginning to set in.  I knew there was a large, violent tornado on the ground and it was doing damage to homes and businesses.  My other half pulled me in close and supported me; telling me it was all going to be alright.  We both stood glued to the TV as the storm continued to chew up areas that are very familiar to me.  I thought in my head, "This thing is going to chew up Lambert."  Time was standing still.

The storm began a more due eastwardly movement.  My thoughts then turned to my aunt and uncle.  I dialed and the phone rang once.  Her tone was different.  There were no pleasantries exchanged.  I told her to please take shelter now and if she was okay following the storm to please call my mom to make sure she was okay in case I could not get through to her.  She agreed and we quickly hung up to head to the basement.

I went back to watching the TV.  I've done everything I could do to help.  I've called and given them warnings.  There I was helpless, pacing, praying that my family would be alright.  As the storm continued to track it became clear that my mom was okay.  As the storm crossed the river it entered Granite City, IL.  I knew it would be close to my aunt.  I prayed for her safety.

Once the storm had passed, I called my mom.  I was relieved that she was okay.  There was no damage. She said the sirens went off and she took cover in the bathroom (a central room) when she heard them.  I was proud of her.   After talking to my mom I tried to call my aunt.  The phone just rang and rang.  Nerves set in.  I knew she'd taken cover but now power was out.   I didn't get much sleep that night.

The next morning I called my aunt.  To my great relief she answered and told me she was okay.  The tornado damage path was one block from her home.   The neighborhood on the next block received EF2 damage from that storm.  I asked her how much time there was between she and I hanging up the phone and the time the tornado hit.  She said, "4 minutes."  That was very close!

What a relief!

Updated:  Pics of track and damage. 

The New SuperOutbreak

Tuscaloosa-Birmingham Tornado   Source:Meterology News

From the time I was a small child, I was always fascinated by weather.  To this day, it's still one of my passions.   While I am not a meteorologist, I have done extensive study of it during my undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University and also in my own personal time through valid resources.   Currently, I am a trained weather spotter with the National Weather Service, and am proud of the service that I provide to my community.

For one of my senior theses, I extensively studied the Super Outbreak that occured April 3-4, 1974.  In that outbreak, 148 confirmed tornadoes tore through 13 states in the midwest, mid-south, and eastern United States.   In that outbreak, there were an unprecedented number of F4 and F5 tornadoes.   The death toll was 315.  Injuries totaled more than 5,000 people.   Damage was strewn across 900 square miles.   Cities and towns such as Brandenburg, KY, Xenia, OH, and Guin, AL have scars that have faded but not completely disappeared.  Amazing stuff from a scientific standpoint.  Horrific from a human standpoint.

Fast forward 37 years, 23 days.  A possibly even bigger Super Outbreak of tornadoes unleashed terror across the midwest and mid-south.   So far, there are 157 reports of tornadoes.  The death toll as of 1 pm CDT is currently 249, injury count over 600 and still rising.   This details of this event are far from over, but I predict yesterday's outbreak will be even larger than the original Super Outbreak.

My prayers go out to all those affected by the Super Outbreak of 2011.

For more information on the Super Outbreak of 1974, go to the Super Outbreak 1974 website for stories, pics, and even audio of tornadoes from that event.

Update:  Pic of Tuscaloosa-Birmingham EF4 tornado.