This will probably be my final post. Last night we got power, and I have heard of others who have had their power restored today. We are all attempting to get back to some sort of a routine. There are a few more comments and stories I need to share before I sign off.
There were so many tornadoes in our area on April 27 that the authorities are still discovering areas of destruction in remote areas of our state. They are still plotting routes of “minor” tornadoes that they have not had time to look at until now. More and more of these will be brought to light in the next few weeks, I am sure. We are far from seeing the end of the destruction.
There are large burn piles all over our area, and the air is filled with smoke. Due to the imposed curfew, we had not been out after dark since the storms. Last night when we returned from Bible study, we passed the glow of fires in the darkness where a couple of weeks ago there had been houses with lights on inside. The landscape in our area is forever changed.
Prior to the storms, we had already welcomed the hummingbirds to our area and had enjoyed watching them. We have not seen any since that day. They are so tiny and fragile, we fear that they are “gone with the wind”. Hopefully, there are others who will come to our area in the spring and summer.
With power returning, we brought Olen’s parents back home from the motel this morning. They had walked from the motel to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and had discussed with each other the storms, how thankful they were, and how they had managed with the days of power-loss. As they left the restaurant, a stranger stopped them and handed them a $20 bill. They tried to return it, but he told them that he had overheard their conversation and had come from Kentucky to help those in need. He decided to start his “helping” with them!
Olen has added some information to this blog that he thought might be of interest. This is a map of our immediate vicinity and the storm’s path of destruction. As usual, we do not mention last names, but many of you know the people mentioned.
This picture shows the tornado path as it passed by the French Mill area and East Limestone High School area. At this point it is estimated that the path was 1/2 mile wide with winds around 200+ mph (EF5). The highway along the bottom of the picture is US 72. The white lines are the approximate borders of major destruction. Basically, all of the subdivisions within the path were destroyed. Almost all of the houses were total losses.
Locations of interest are identified by the following codes:
ELHS – East Limestone High School (minor damage to bldgs, moderate damage to ballfields)
BCC – Bethel Church of Christ (totally destroyed)
DL – home of Daniel and Rebecca (totally destroyed)
GC – home of Gary and Debby (almost all trees lost, minor damage to house)
SC – home of Shirley (totally destroyed)
BB – home of Barry and Tabatha (minor limb damage)
OB – home of Olen and Jane (no damage)
EB – home of Eugene and Madelene (no damage)
NW – home of Norm and Barbara Jo (for reference)
KB – home of Keith and Mary Jo (for reference)
Electrical power was off until Tuesday or Wednesday for most of the area within the picture.
On the north side of the Bethel Church of Christ property, Channel 48 (WAFF) had a weather radar dome on a tower. A camera on the tower was showing the approaching tornado until it was blown away by the storm.
**********************************************************************************
I have posted information about the wedding photos we found. So far I have heard from a lady who was married on that date, but she is not the bride in the picture. If I am contacted by the “real” bride, I will add another note to this blog. Unless something really important comes up, this will be my final post. I hope this has helped those of you who have been concerned about your friends in our area. We have, indeed, been through a terrifying experience. But, our family is alive and well and very thankful. We can’t forget…
…the meteorologists in our area who gave us prior warning so we could prepare and get ourselves to a place of safety. ..
…the policemen who put their lives in danger driving down country roads with sirens blaring to warn us of another approaching tornado after our power went out and we had no other warnings…
…the thousands of volunteers who helped neighbors (or people they did not even know!) dig out of the rubble…
…the volunteers who grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and gave them away to victims and volunteers…
…the policemen and National Guard who protected our area of destruction…
…the offers for help and assistance from other states…
…the many employees of utility companies from our area and other states (at least one truck from Lakeland, Florida my hometown!) who worked long, tiring hours to restore power to the area…
But, most of all we will never forget the grace of God for sparing as many of us as He did on that day of terror. We are grateful to Him for the care, protection, love, and patience He gives to all of us every day. May those who lost loved ones in the storms be comforted in the fact that God is always in charge and we must remain faithful to Him in every situation of life. May we all be reminded a little more about the uncertainty of life, and how, in a moment’s time, it is possible be taken from all of this that we currently know.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1
There were so many tornadoes in our area on April 27 that the authorities are still discovering areas of destruction in remote areas of our state. They are still plotting routes of “minor” tornadoes that they have not had time to look at until now. More and more of these will be brought to light in the next few weeks, I am sure. We are far from seeing the end of the destruction.
There are large burn piles all over our area, and the air is filled with smoke. Due to the imposed curfew, we had not been out after dark since the storms. Last night when we returned from Bible study, we passed the glow of fires in the darkness where a couple of weeks ago there had been houses with lights on inside. The landscape in our area is forever changed.
Prior to the storms, we had already welcomed the hummingbirds to our area and had enjoyed watching them. We have not seen any since that day. They are so tiny and fragile, we fear that they are “gone with the wind”. Hopefully, there are others who will come to our area in the spring and summer.
With power returning, we brought Olen’s parents back home from the motel this morning. They had walked from the motel to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and had discussed with each other the storms, how thankful they were, and how they had managed with the days of power-loss. As they left the restaurant, a stranger stopped them and handed them a $20 bill. They tried to return it, but he told them that he had overheard their conversation and had come from Kentucky to help those in need. He decided to start his “helping” with them!
Olen has added some information to this blog that he thought might be of interest. This is a map of our immediate vicinity and the storm’s path of destruction. As usual, we do not mention last names, but many of you know the people mentioned.
This picture shows the tornado path as it passed by the French Mill area and East Limestone High School area. At this point it is estimated that the path was 1/2 mile wide with winds around 200+ mph (EF5). The highway along the bottom of the picture is US 72. The white lines are the approximate borders of major destruction. Basically, all of the subdivisions within the path were destroyed. Almost all of the houses were total losses.Locations of interest are identified by the following codes:
ELHS – East Limestone High School (minor damage to bldgs, moderate damage to ballfields)
BCC – Bethel Church of Christ (totally destroyed)
DL – home of Daniel and Rebecca (totally destroyed)
GC – home of Gary and Debby (almost all trees lost, minor damage to house)
SC – home of Shirley (totally destroyed)
BB – home of Barry and Tabatha (minor limb damage)
OB – home of Olen and Jane (no damage)
EB – home of Eugene and Madelene (no damage)
NW – home of Norm and Barbara Jo (for reference)
KB – home of Keith and Mary Jo (for reference)
Electrical power was off until Tuesday or Wednesday for most of the area within the picture.
On the north side of the Bethel Church of Christ property, Channel 48 (WAFF) had a weather radar dome on a tower. A camera on the tower was showing the approaching tornado until it was blown away by the storm.
**********************************************************************************
I have posted information about the wedding photos we found. So far I have heard from a lady who was married on that date, but she is not the bride in the picture. If I am contacted by the “real” bride, I will add another note to this blog. Unless something really important comes up, this will be my final post. I hope this has helped those of you who have been concerned about your friends in our area. We have, indeed, been through a terrifying experience. But, our family is alive and well and very thankful. We can’t forget…
…the meteorologists in our area who gave us prior warning so we could prepare and get ourselves to a place of safety. ..
…the policemen who put their lives in danger driving down country roads with sirens blaring to warn us of another approaching tornado after our power went out and we had no other warnings…
…the thousands of volunteers who helped neighbors (or people they did not even know!) dig out of the rubble…
…the volunteers who grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and gave them away to victims and volunteers…
…the policemen and National Guard who protected our area of destruction…
…the offers for help and assistance from other states…
…the many employees of utility companies from our area and other states (at least one truck from Lakeland, Florida my hometown!) who worked long, tiring hours to restore power to the area…
But, most of all we will never forget the grace of God for sparing as many of us as He did on that day of terror. We are grateful to Him for the care, protection, love, and patience He gives to all of us every day. May those who lost loved ones in the storms be comforted in the fact that God is always in charge and we must remain faithful to Him in every situation of life. May we all be reminded a little more about the uncertainty of life, and how, in a moment’s time, it is possible be taken from all of this that we currently know.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1
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