2011-04-27 MISC: AL,TN,MS,KY,OH,IN,WV,GA

[rdale]

This reports that the Tuscaloosa mayor says 400 people are still missing/unaccounted for from this tornado.

There's a BIG difference between "missing" and "unaccounted for." Every disaster has many unaccounted for, especially when power & communications are out.

 

[Mike Johnston]

IN THE COMMUNITY OF TANNER...THE INTENSITY WAS MAXIMIZED WITH A LARGE SWATH OF EF-4 DAMAGE AND A NARROW CORRIDOR OF HIGH END EF-4 TO NEAR EF-5 DAMAGE. - Per NWS Huntsville in latest PIS

If I remember correctly Tanner, AL, was also hit by one of the F-5s from the '74 Super Outbreak.

Yes. Actually, Tanner was remarkably struck by TWO F-5s during the Super Outbreak, only 30 minutes apart.

As to speculation of reasons for the high death toll in the instant outbreak, one simple fact is that many houses in the southeast just don't have basements. I agree that apathy and a general lack of weather awareness amongst the population were undoubtedly a factor. But, with so many EF-4 + damage images, I'm sure it's plausible that many perished simply due to no access to underground shelter.

 

[Zack Hargrove]

Our account of the monster supercell as it crossed through St. Claire County, AL. Was recycling at this point and the tornado was rain wrapped so we couldn't see it. There were still some tense moments and some tornado damage, though.

Watch video >

 

[Michael Riedl]

There's a BIG difference between "missing" and "unaccounted for." Every disaster has many unaccounted for, especially when power & communications are out.

I agree 100%, so take it for what you think its worth at the moment. I was kind of surprised when I first saw it that a number that high was still floating around, but this was such a large area hit that it really isn't all that abnormal.

 

[mikegeukes]

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1041 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2011

PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION FROM CULLMAN COUNTY

PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-4

http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KHUN/1104300341.nous44.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1056 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2011

...UPDATED PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION
..FRANKLIN AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES

PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-4

http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KHUN/1104300356.nous44.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
803 PM CDT FRI APR 29 2011

..UPDATED FOR TORNADO NO 4 IN GREENE...HALE...AND BIBB COUNTIES

http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBMX/1104300105.nous44.html

 

[Trey Thee]

I'm sure some people did some stupid things, didn't pay attention, and got themselves killed, but from the severity of the damage reports, it seems evident that many people DID the right things, took cover in the safest areas of their houses, and got killed anyway. The home I live in here in Kansas, while well-constructed by 1975 standards (when it was built), is a split-level ranch without a true basement area. I think it would stand up OK to a garden-variety tornado, but if anything worse than an EF-3 hit my house, I'd probably be dead, and I sure know what to do during a storm.

All the comments about people being stupid seem pretty damn insensitive to me.

Well I've made that comment once or twice, I'm not trying to be insensitive but have you read the interviews or watched the interviews with people saying they saw it on tv, they heard the sirens but didn't think it would hit them? Another person heard the sirens but didn't want to change the channel on the tv, etc etc etc...sorry if I offended you, that wasn't my intent. The reality is you are correct, an EF5 would make any structure above ground level unsafe, but that doesn't mean you sit on the couch sipping your beer.

 

[Elaine Spencer]

There's a BIG difference between "missing" and "unaccounted for."

I agree, but with each passing day and hour the "unaccounted for" (people who have not yet been contacted) become more and more likely to be genuinely "missing" (vanished without a trace or under circumstances that lead one to suspect they are dead or injured).

In 2004 when an F-3 struck Utica, IL, I was not able to reach my parents for several hours after it hit. They had no power and no phone service so they could not call me, my brother or anyone else to let us know they were OK. A friend was able to get into town to check on them and after verifying that they were OK and their house was intact, called me and my brother to let us know. For those first several hours after the tornado, they were "unaccounted for." If no one had been able to reach them that night, they would have remained "unaccounted for" until the next morning, when I was able to get there (I lived about 75 miles away).

However, if either I or their friends had arrived at what used to be their home, found it reduced to rubble or to a bare slab (they had no basement) and no sign of them anywhere, then they would have been "missing."

Perhaps the authorities in Tuscaloosa should, if possible, clarify how many of the 400 fall into each category (not yet contacted vs. completely vanished).

 

[John Hudson]

Those are amazing pics!

Is there anyone who can even begin to understand/explain how horizontal vortices form perpendicular to the main circulation like that?
Utterly fascinating.

John
VE4 JTH

 

[Danny Neal]

After looking at the damage photos and close ups.... I think it is QUITE possible that people DID take shelter and acted appropriately. Looking at what is left of their homes factoring in they had no basements they could very well have just been taken away and blown out of their houses. It is terribly sad to be in an interior closet wrapped in blankets, pillows, mattress and have that beast just rip you and your house away. Also another factor is much of N. AL was without power anyway, so it is possible that they really didn't get the warning until it was right on them.

 

[Jeff Duda]

Does anyone happen to know what the highest gate to gate shear was recorded on the 27th.

You should check my post #102 on this thread.

 

[Danny Neal]

http://www.justin.tv/radioman911/b/284744047 - Audio of events leading up to devastating tornado.

 

[Michael Ratliff]

That gave me goose bumps Danny ! Technology is crazy to be able to replay that.

 

[Bob Wagner]

This picture (from FOX News) is the most impressive piece of evidence I have seen so far.

There's also the shredded railroad bridge from the Tuscaloosa overflight video...

Edit: To clarify, that picture is apparently from Mississippi, so it may have come from the one tornado that has already been officially rated as EF-5.

My understanding is that, yes, this picture is from the Smithville, MS tornado.

 

[Amanda Farnham]

My understanding is that, yes, this picture is from the Smithville, MS tornado.

I was wondering if it was a tube in the road. At first I wondered if it was a case of isolated flash flooding, but you certainly don't see any of the typical mud build up after something like that. Guessing the wind through the tube was so great it lifted it out. So is it considered scoured?

 

[Jason Haller]

I was wondering if it was a tube in the road. At first I wondered if it was a case of isolated flash flooding, but you certainly don't see any of the typical mud build up after something like that. Guessing the wind through the tube was so great it lifted it out. So is it considered scoured?

I agree and if you look at the tree next to it you will see part of it I believe. Still very impressive as there was still dirt and asphalt on top of it.