Deadly storms cause major damage across Alabama
Many Alabamians are picking up the pieces as Alabama Power crews and others work to restore service a day after a deadly outbreak of tornadoes in the state. (Wynter Byrd/Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Restoration is underway after multiple waves of severe storms tore through the state Thursday and into Friday morning, unleashing as many as eight tornadoes. At least six deaths have been attributed to the severe weather in Alabama and Georgia.
Multiple Alabama counties saw significant damage from the event, with hundreds of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed, according to emergency officials. Flash flooding also caused damage in many locations and temporarily shut down a portion of Interstate 65.
The biggest loss of life took place in the community of Ohatchee in Calhoun County, where four people were killed, including three members of one family. A fifth person died in the Wellington area of Calhoun County. One person died in Georgia from a heart attack as the storms moved east.
Significant damage was reported in Shelby, Jefferson, Coosa and Bibb counties. Search and rescue missions continued overnight Thursday and into Friday morning.
A family and their neighbors in Centreville, in Bibb County, were temporarily trapped when a tree fell across the door of their underground storm shelter. As of midday Friday, there was no official count of the number of injuries in Alabama from the storms.
In Shelby County, multiple communities saw homes and businesses severely damaged and destroyed, including sections of Helena, Hoover and Pelham. Oak Mountain State Park and communities near the mountain, including Eagle Point, Greystone and Highland Lakes, suffered significant damage.
Initial reports show one damaging tornado stayed on the ground for an estimate 100 miles.
Alabama Power’s storm team moved quickly as soon as it was safe to restore power. More than 110,000 Alabama Power customers were affected at some point by the severe weather. As of noon Friday, about 18,000 customers remained without service.
“Our hearts go out to those affected by Thursday’s devastating storms across the state,” the company said in a statement. “We can rebuild where there is damage, but there is no replacement for the loss of life. Alabama Power stands with those affected and will work with community partners to help with the recovery.”
In addition to its own crews, the company said it is bringing in more than 1,000 linemen and support personnel from across the Southeast to help restore power. The company said that by end of day Sunday, it expects to have power restored to 95 percent of customers who can receive service.
Thursday’s severe weather and tornadoes hit just a week after another tornado outbreak in Alabama on St. Patrick’s Day. That wave of storms produced 25 tornadoes statewide, including 3 EF-2 tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. The longest-track tornado reported on that day traveled 36.5 miles. There were no deaths attributed to the March 17 outbreak.
Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for both storms. Emergency officials and relief organizations, including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way of Central Alabama were already active Thursday evening assisting victims of the most recent event. Members of the Alabama Power Service Organization, made up of company volunteers and their families, also were mobilizing to provide support, along with other nonprofit organizations across the state.
Forecasters said the state has the potential to see more storms into the weekend. Alabama Power customers should always be prepared for the possibility of severe weather and have a storm plan in place. To learn more about putting together a severe weather plan, what to do before severe storms, and how to be safe after the storm, visit the Alabama Power Storm Center.
Alabama Power customers are also encouraged to sign up for Outage Alerts to receive real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts. Text ‘Enroll’ to 272688 or click here for details. Customers who are experiencing an outage also can report it online at alabamapower.com or call the company’s automated reporting system at 1-800-888-APCO (2726).
