April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak

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President Obama in Alberta City on April 29.

The April 2011 tornado outbreak from April 25–28, 2011, affected the Southern, Midwestern, and Eastern United States, leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake, especially across the state of Alabama. The outbreak produced destructive tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and affected several other areas throughout the Southern and Eastern United States with tornadoes confirmed from Texas to New York. Widespread and destructive tornadoes occurred on each day of the outbreak, with April 27 being the most prolific and destructive tornado day in United States history.

At around 5:10 p.m. CDT, on April 27, a very large and exceptionally destructive tornado struck Tuscaloosa. About 40 minutes later, the same tornado struck the northern suburbs of Birmingham. A tornado emergency was issued for both cities. A debris ball was observed by the Birmingham NEXRAD, indicating that the tornado was causing extreme damage. Photos from the damage path showed total devastation. By the morning of April 30, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency had confirmed at least 45 storm fatalities in Tuscaloosa. A statewide review by emergency management officials has recorded 249 fatalities statewide.

Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornado

A large wedge tornado tracked across Tuscaloosa County including the southern and eastern portions of Tuscaloosa around 5:10 p.m. on April 27, and continued northeast. Debris from the tornado was reported to be falling from the sky across Birmingham over 20 miles away. Skycams operated by WBRC and ABC affiliate WJSU captured video of the tornado as it struck Tuscaloosa. Several stores and restaurants in a business district at the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and 15th Street, near the DCH Regional Medical Center, were destroyed by the tornado; buildings were also reported destroyed on 35th Street, between Interstate 359 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. As the tornado traveled east to 35th Street and Kauloosa Avenue, the Tuscaloosa Environmental Services and Cintas facilities suffered severe damage. Numerous homes in the Rosedale and Forest Lake neighborhoods, as well as a P&P Grocery and Rosedale Court, were devastated. The University of Alabama suspended its operations, canceled its softball and rowing competitions, canceled its final exams period, and postponed its commencement until August 6.

The tornado entered Jefferson County from the southwest in a rural area before ripping through Concord killing six residents and destroying nearly the entire community. From Concord, the storm continued in its northeasterly path towards Pleasant Grove. Devastating much of the central portion of the community, nine residents were killed in Pleasant Grove as a result of the storm. From there, the tornado continued through McDonald Chapel en route to the Pratt City area of Birmingham where two residents were killed. The tornado continued towards the northeast causing significant damage in Fultondale before retracting back into the sky. The storm moved through northeast Jefferson County without causing significant damage before the tornado touched-down in St. Clair County just south of Ashville where it continued moving to the northwest through east Alabama and west Georgia. Television cameras, including another skycam operated by WJSU, captured the mile-wide tornado as it moved east-northeast across the western and northern areas of Jefferson County around 6:00 p.m. CDT.

The National Weather Service determined the path length of this violent tornado to be 80.3 miles with a maximum damage path width of 1.5 miles; it has been preliminary classified as an EF-4 tornado with peak winds up to 190 mph. Initial reports from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham indicated at least 59 people were killed, with over 1,000 injured in the Tuscaloosa area alone. This makes the storm the deadliest tornado in the United States since 1955, and the deadliest single tornado ever to strike the state of Alabama. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited Tuscaloosa on April 29, taking a ground tour of some of the affected areas along 15th Street, in Alberta City and Holt. Obama was quoted as saying that he has "never seen devastation like this." He stated further that he had already declared a federal state of emergency in Alabama retroactive to the day of the storm.

As of the evening of May 2, 326 people remained missing in Tuscaloosa. According to the Los Angeles Times, "no sooner are names stricken than fresh reports flow in to swell the list again." Reports on May 3 indicated that throughout Tuscaloosa County, nearly 400 people were missing. Search and rescue efforts throughout the area continued with four cadaver dogs and 100 personnel combing the rubble. According to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, eight others are missing elsewhere in the state. By May 5, the number of missing people in Tuscaloosa decreased to 12.

Cullman/Arab tornado

The tornado was first seen and then tracked on tower cameras, including one operated by WJSU, for several minutes. Some cameras were obliterated. Radio stations in downtown Cullman also reported in on the tornado and some even captured the tornado passing over until their broadcast towers were destroyed. Preliminary reports stated that the courthouse and EMS building nearby took a direct hit. Many well-known businesses such as Vincent's furniture, the Cullman Times, and the Busy Bee Cafe were severely damaged or destroyed. There was major damage was along a two block area through the center of the downtown business district. This tornado continued northeast and swept away a gas station in Arab along with completely crippling its power grid and obstructing many roads with trees. Six total fatalities were reported from this tornado.

References

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