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Go to the Tornado Pictures (Feb 08)

An F3 Tornado Damages Neighborhoods in Prattville  18 Feb 08

After 3 warnings of the Weather Sirens, it hit us hard!

The day started as most Sundays. Getting up and getting ready to go to church. The threat of severe weather loomed as some of the Western counties of Alabama fell under Severe Thunderstorm Warnings early in the day. We all knew that Rich Thomas of WSFA 12 News had predicted bad weather for the afternoon. It wasn't long before the Tornado Watches were posted on the bottom right corner of the TV. I was getting all set to watch the 50th running of the Daytona 500, first race of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup. My driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had already won the Budweiser Shootout and one of the Gatorade 125 Qualifying races and was poised to win the never won, Daytona Triple Crown, by winning the 500 too. I was all engaged on the SPEED Channel pre-race show and was paying little attention to the growing threat. After the pre-show, the Prayer, the National Anthem, and the command "Gentlemen, start your engines" I was settling in for a good long close race. I was switching channels with my "back button" on my remote and listening to WSFA 12 for details of the weather. Every now and then I'd get up and look out the window. Nothing indicated that we were in the direct line of fire for what was coming! The race started and they had only ran about 20 or 25 laps when all of a sudden, I heard what I thought was rain, really hard rain. I got up to look out the window, that's when the power went off, then it hit! Everything in my back yard started moving rapidly towards the house. I just had time to run from the den, into the hallway before the brunt of the storm hit! It did sound like a freight train! I'd always heard this cliché, but it really did! I could hear things hitting the side of the house and the top of the house was making a loud popping noise, this didn't stop, it got stronger, much stronger! I thought to myself this was it, the one that takes it all and I instantly began to wonder if I'd make it out alive. In what seemed like several minutes, it was all over! There was an eerie dark silence. I grabbed my shoes and my Air Force Rain Jacket and immediately went out the front door. I was met by neighbors who were running up Beth Manor towards Sheila Blvd. My heart was pounding and I didn't really know what to do, so I just followed others who were running towards the worst damaged areas.

There were wires of all kinds hanging everywhere and trash and debris stuck all up in the trees and the houses that I was used to seeing along Beth Manor, just 4 or 5 houses up from mine, were practically gone! I ran up the street and we started going from house to house and yelling to see if everyone was OK. My neighbors were walking out of what was left of their homes in a daze. Some were hurt and needed medical attention, others were like me, they came out and went right to work trying to help others in this situation. I didn't travel up past the end of Beth Manor (only two blocks from my house) because I had left my daughter at my house with the dogs and I didn't want to get too far because I didn't want them to worry about me or to try to follow me. Once more volunteers showed up, I went back down to the corner of Beth Manor and Teri Lane where I discovered several large and small power lines down in the street and dangling over the street and yards. People were coming from all directions trying to get into the affected area. They were running right through all of these downed power lines and we didn't know if they were hot or not. I moved down to the next street and started directing motor and foot traffic, warning people about the wires. Some people were very cautious, others were down right stupid. There were people running in the rain into the area with bare feet and they were going right through all the wires and debris. I couldn't believe how fast the rubberneckers made it to the scene. Hundreds of people were trying to get in. Some of them started driving through front yards to get their vehicles past all the downed power lines. They had no respect for anyone's property or their safety! I understand that some people had family in the area and they wanted to get in to check on them, but others, and you know who you are, didn't have any interest in the area except to gawk or to take advantage of the situation. That's when my neighbor and I decided to put a stop to it. Police and Fire Department Personnel were trying to get in, but were severely hampered by all the people with their cars blocking the way. We started diverting traffic on the street and stopping walkers from continuing through the downed lines. We turned back hundreds of people who when asked, "Do you have family in the area?" Almost all would respond with a Yes, but couldn't tell you which house they lived in or what street they lived on or even their names. These were opportunist and thrill seekers who were hindering the rescue effort! If they couldn't tell us what house their relatives or friends lived in or what street they were located on, we turned them back! No! We weren't armed, nor were we wearing any badges, but our determination and our concern for our neighborhood must have been evident in our voices because in most cases, it worked. There was a couple of exceptions! One woman, who was obviously pregnant and was fast approaching her delivery date, was coming up the street with a camera hanging around her neck and dragging 3 little kids with her who were not dressed for the rain. When I stopped her and questioned her, she didn't know anyone in the area. She stated that she was going in to see if she could help people. I told her that she could help more by not being in the way. She proceeded on up the street and I stated to her that there was no way she was going to be able to help anyone in her condition with three kids tagging along and that I hoped her camera malfunctioned or became damaged, but on she went. You know who you are! It wasn't long before we were joined by the Autauga County Sheriff's Deputies and they worked hard to keep those who had no business in the area, out! I applaud them for their efforts in getting the traffic turned around and out of the way and for protecting my neighbors and friends.

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