StormReady On the 24th, an F4 developed in Oklahoma, killing 2. As we got even closer we could then see what had transpired. Supercell three: Newnan and Peachtree City, Ga. John got out of the newspaper business in late 1960s. Insulation was strung on the ground and on the trees for miles. I remember going through what once was Brent.I remember seeing a gas station made of cinder blocks and it was completely leveled. Based on the damage scene and contextual evidence, it is plausible that winds were stronger, the weather service said. Get a daily look at whats developing in science and technology throughout the world. He took off running and I still remember him. I interviewed a number of long-time residents of the town for my article. I remember that my Aunt was living with my Grandfather at the time and she was injured and sent to a hospital in Tuscaloosa. Drought Monitor pic.twitter.com/efdr6wVo9S. Fire Weather US Dept of Commerce My dad said the storms path was a mile wide. I will never forget this particuler Tornado. I was 12 when this happened, my dad looked out the back door and saw it go over our house, it was seriously scary first time that I can remember being that scared. I have many vivid images of that morning that have stuck with me throughout my life. it was fairly beat up even before the storm. TAKE COVER. My father in law heard warning on police radio. I was 5 at the time & remember Papa having to put down one of his horses. A large tornado struck in or close to Brent and Centreville, Alabama, around 5 p.m. local time, prompting the Weather Service to issue a "tornado emergency" and warn of potentially "catastrophic" damage. Storm Spotters (SKYWARN) Yes, I remember it well. The volume of snapped trees was enough to assign an EF-3 rating for this segment of the tornados path, the weather service said. The weather service said numerous homes were damaged -- some significantly -- on River Run Road and the adjacent side streets. At least two homes were shifted from their foundation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Path of Major Destruction 135 Miles Long, Southern University/Southern Academy,Greensboro, 36th Anniversary of Brent Tornado, CentrevillePress, Like a Bush Hog on a Rock Pile & The Famous BrentTornado, A ride through 2013 Centreville and Brent. I thank God every day we made it out ok. In Baldwin County, a downed tree came inches away from damaging a nearby truck: 1148pm - Tree damage in Daphne, AL (Baldwin County). I remember strong storms Sunday evening while still at the lake, but not being frightened. According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, the Autauga tornado was on. We retreated to the hall. Forecast Discussion The Brent Tornado went on to kill 5 people in Brent and continued to Mt. Rivers and Lakes That there are situations where the only thing that would spare my life is a prayer. Then, late in the day, a monster storm in the making, indicated by a very distinct hook echo, appeared to our southwest. On May 27, 1973, a category 4 tornado tore through the Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, and Greensboro area, leaving 90 percent of the city of Brent destroyed. The first was an EF-2 tornado that carved a 35.17-mile path through parts of Choctaw and Marengo counties. I will never forget it, I remember the storm. Picture from The BirminghamNews Brother Grady Chism announced at the benediction that the Bethel Church had been hit by a tornado. One person was injured, according to University. All photos and writing by John Brasher unless otherwise noted. My sister and I were in the hospital from May 27th until July 5th. Baaculaureate services had ended 12 minutes before the tornado came through Greensboro and destroyed the old Southern University which housed Southern Academy at the time. He looked like he was in shock. My father was manager of the IGA in centerville at the time , I was 16 yrs old . It had a track of 139.10 miles, according to weather service data. Hurricane Preparedness All the windows on the left side of the car were gone only to have mud, grass, pines needles and other debris about an inch thick on the inside of the windows on the right side of the car. I remember he and I were standing outside then it seemed like the oxygen was sucked out of the air . The Centreville radar continued to track the storm as it worked over Greensboro and targeted Bibb County. I was only 7 at the time. Local Storm Reports Tornado Database A number of tornadoes touched down across north and central sections of the state that day. May 27, 1973, 34 years ago today, was also a Sunday. Thank God she wouldnt go. Microbursts @NWSHuntsville @DanielleDozier @BenSmith_WHNT @katemckennawx @EmilyOwenWX @BradTravisWAFF @spann #alwx #hunwx @LimestoneEMA pic.twitter.com/iF9wqHMQe4. Local Climatology The tornado that killed seven people in Autauga County had a path that was 82 miles long and stretched through several counties. Several days later, Centreville Press published Jim Oakley and I followed the path of the storm in a plane from Brent to Columbiana. Please select one of the following: Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I was 17 years old. This was my first time in Brent. I had just gotten out of hospital. I remember this storm. As many as eight tornadoes might have hit Alabama on Thursday as a result of a "super cell" that later moved into Georgia, said John De Block, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Special Weather Statements The tornado rapidly strengthened as it approached the Old Kingston community and reached EF-3 intensity. Market data provided by Factset. The wind had picked me up slightly and I felt as if I were floating down the hill. Outreach Activities Flood Products Description At 60 years old now, Im still trying to comprehend what I saw that morning. Eric's Weather Library, Maximum Rated Tornado The F4/F5 Database, NOAA Recorded Tornado Touchdowns Tornado Enviroment Browser, Sites dedicated to specific tornado events. It did hold together. It was me, my two brothers, my mom and dad and our dog. The weather service said the tornado touched down in Autauga County and remained on the ground until it reached Chambers County on Alabamas eastern border with Georgia. The monster storm finally dissipated near Anniston, on the western slope of Mt. I think he would. Homes crumbled, trees snapped and roads are impassable in areas of Bibb County including West Blocton and Brent. I was stationed at old Craig AFB in Selma and was a T-37 instructor pilot. Been waiting for ya Mr. Cummings. I saw things a 12 year old boy probably shouldnt see. The hardest hit area was Brent, where the tornado caused upper level F4 damage, bordering on F5. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division reports the following road conditions: Bibb County Reports of trees down on Alabama 5 South of Brent. Local Climate Data Previsin de 7 Das The first thing he said when he walked in the door was Brents gone. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I was 12 years old at the time and was spending the weekend with my grandparents in Maplesville. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. referenced Ive been told as the example of the town that was destroyed in the movie Twister.A once in the century storm.Thank you,John. Our Office As we neared our area, we could immediately see the path of total destruction within the national forest to the west (fully a mile wide path with trees laid down) and making a bee line for the towns. At least five manufactured homes were blown away with their frames thrown considerable distances, the weather service said. I wish so badly that I could find some pictures from the damage in Calera on this day. We moved to Maplesville and started over. We lived Heiberger, i remember going to bed having to talk my self to sleep. The roof was two thirds gone, and the rest of the building looked as it had been sand blasted. May 27, 1973. Tin and other debris was found in the Oakmulgee Forest many miles away from the path of the storm. I was told that all the pressure in cans like hair spray and deodorant was sucked out by the pressure in the tornado. I heard several stories about people leaving their trailers and laying in a ditch for protection. We got down as low as we could in the car and held on. Our car was destroyed. Summer Safety Campaign Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Came to warn us as we were outside having a cook out with friends. Does anybody have any picture before and after of this Motel? The tornado then moved toward Coven Abbett Road and then Elbert Road, damaging several homes and destroying several boat houses. So glad the community banded together & rebuilt! If you would like, I could transcribe the article and post it. Extensive damage was also reported later in the day southeast of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in the towns of Centreville and Brent as another tornado tracked 90 miles across the state. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Tornado rips through north Birmingham, Alabama area. Picture from The BirminghamNews Past Events I dont know if he got one or not, but Dale Black deserved commendation from the weather service for his work and keeping on task that day. Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather Damage reports out of Hale and Bibb Counties, Talladega woman killed in 2-vehicle crash, Arrest made in Tuscaloosa shooting; 1 injured, Homicide in Center Point, shooting in Birmingham believed to be connected, Tarrant man shot in ankle while walking outside his home, Police investigating early morning shooting at area Waffle House, Senator Tuberville pushes for bill on institutional child abuse. Regional Weather Roundup Nationwide & Real-Time, Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Dale was tracking tornadic storms that were popping up before him on the radar screen almost constantly. F3 of Tarrant and Centerpoint *Tornado risk is calculated from the destruction path that has occured within 30 miles of the location. I watched as everything around us was destroyed. Powered byWPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress. #alwx https://t.co/5yJdHOvAWY. I woke up in the hospital after being in a coma for weeks. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. ***NOT FOR BROADCAST***Contact Brett Adair with Live Storms Media to license.brett@livestormsmedia.comPine forest completely mowed down by an apparent violen. We later learned that the tornado hopped across the road and destroyed Wesley Chapel Church, sparing our home and many others nearby. At that point, the rear window fell out of his truck. Tropical Cyclone Reports, Warnings and Other Products Storm Data Just before the service was to begin my mom suggested I run over to the house and get a flash light in case the power went out. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The tornado then moved across the rest of Tallapoosa County causing EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage, including in the Sessions area. The National Weather Service has spent the past few days tracing the path of Alabamas deadliest tornado since 2019. Outreach Materials In Limestone County, the Emergency Management Agency reported a tree fell on a mobile home. Planes and hangars . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). It gave me a very healthy fear of tornadoes. Centreville radar had been blinded and dealt a crippling blow, but weather guys were still able to get word out of the situation and what was coming for Brent. We went into a bed room and knelt down between a bed and the cheftarobe. I will never forget that day. When we exited the building the air was deathly still and we could hear sirens of the emergency vehicles. Tornado Database Several days later, Centreville Press published Jim Oakley and I followed the path of the storm in a plane from Brent to Columbiana. Winter Weather Warnings Rivers and Lakes Other Research He worked darkroom for a while at the old Waldrup Studio in Mountain Brook. Thoughsix tornadoes developed around Alabama on the 27th, including4 F2s, it was the F3 northeast of Birmingham and the long-track supercell which dropped an F4 through the towns of Greensboro and Brent, which did the most damage. We were at my parents house just a few blocks away from the new house. All were looking in awe, disbelief and a sunken heart. TORNADO DEBRIS SIGNATURE NOTED ON RADAR. Multiple locations were found. My dad, who was a serviceman with Alagasco, was called out within the hour. In Athens, high winds mangled the roof of this building: #BREAKING: A roof was blown off due to high winds this evening near 616 Highway 31 in Athens. A single tornado may account for multiple reports along its path. The tornado never lifted from the ground as it followed highway 25 the entire way. The weather service said that radar showed a debris ball in southern Coosa County which matched ground observation of a wide area of snapped pine trees on either side of McKissick Road between the communities of Speed and Equality. Services were being held here when the tornado struck. Radar showed a large amount of debris from this tornado lofted into the atmosphere in what is known as a "debris ball" signature. BUT, the actual count will be far, far less. I sit here and still remember the smell in the air. Severe Weather (The National Weather Service in Birmingham issued an update on Jan. 18, saying damage near the Independence community in Autauga County led to the path length being extended from the previous 76 miles.). Severe Weather Preparedness So I went back to bed, and went back to sleep. We had relatives who lived there and the surrounding areas. Daily Rainfall Plots I was the lead instructor that morning in a two-ship formation training mission. After the warning had gone out, the weather guys and I walked outside to the northwest corner of the building. J. John Brasher was born in Birmingham, and raised in the Shelby Community in Southeast Shelby County. My grandfather was Conger Cummings and had worked for the highway dept several years. I was told in the same place of horrible destruction, there was eggs in a carton that was untouched. Tree trunks were snapped relatively close to the ground, and the bark was ripped from them. It was a long night. on Tuesday, May 29th, 1973. Meteorologists have rated the tornado that took seven lives in Autauga County on Jan. 12 an EF-3, with top winds estimated at 150 mph in spots along its path. It truly looked like when folks say a bomb went off. Late Wednesday night, a student dorm at the University of Montevallo sustained damage from a tornado: This is a window blown out in one of the living rooms at the New Residents Hall at the University of Montevallo photo from Jennifer Howard pic.twitter.com/O8Ewx2Czpc, Minor damage from Tornado at Brooke Hall. I take tornado watches and warnings very serious today. Severe storms began to batter Alabama on Wednesday afternoon, toppling trees and power lines and damaging a church and a university dorm building. I just remember the next morning packing up to go home and my parents talking about a storm in Brent. 90% of the town of Brent was destroyed killing 5 people and injuring 56. The radar dish had been blown from its tower and lay on the ground no more than 20 feet from the office Dale and I had jumped into. Significant damage to homes and trees occurred along the very wide path. Air Quality We found out the next day that the freezer came from 2 miles down the road. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. A tornado warning went out almost immediately for counties upstream. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Please select one of the following: Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Damage in Brent. "In the 16-second timelapse, you can see the lightning that accompanied the storm during March 25," the agency wrote Friday on Twitterin a message accompanying the 16-second clip. B. Elliott, legendary " Voice of NOAA Radio" in Central Alabama retires. Emergency crews continue to remove debris and conduct additional search and rescue efforts after a tornado ripped through a suburban area north of Birmingham, Ala., leaving at least . Do you have any info on this Co.? near Mertz, or 13 miles southwest of Brent, moving east at 55 mph. I was living in Brent Alabama when that Tornado hit. For example, from Thursday's storms, there are just over 30 tornado reports in Alabama. Back then we didnt get much information and it was very general. Updated: Mar. #alwx @spann @NWSMobile @michaelwhitewx @WKRGEd tornado warned storm last night. The largest and most violent of these would become known as the Brent Tornado. A series of tornadoes hatched by early spring "super cell" storms tore across Alabama and moved into Georgia early Friday, leaving at least five people dead amid ruins of wrecked homes . John did some stringer work for UPI covering Alabama football at Legion Field, way back when, which he says was lots of fun. In fact, there were three just last year. Office History, Education It sounded like a deep roar and I could feel the house slightly vibrate and windows rattle. May 20 Moore Tornado passes above a private shelter Video, Moore, OK Before & After Swipe & Drag Map, New Research On The 1925 Tri-State Tornado. You held your breath. On Sunday night, May 27, 1973, I saw serious tornado damage for the first time in my life, and it changed my life. At least five deaths and multiple injuries have. or redistributed. TORNADOES CONFIRMED ACROSS ALABAMA, GEORGIA TENNESSEE; MORE BAD WEATHER POSSIBLE SATURDAY. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Tornado Warnings Also near Gilbertown, South Choctaw High School sustained damage, according to the National Weather Services Mobile office, which cited reports from the Choctaw County Emergency Management Agency. I was 12 years old at that time. Be safe! (LogOut/ The Brent Tornado was and remains the longest track tornado in Alabama recorded history. Outreach Activities I was a victim of the 1973 tornado. We were traveling down Hwy. All-Hazards Awareness Booklet Severe Safety Rules Graphical Forecasts Yet to be added to the list is the Jan. 12, 2023, Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado, with an updated track length of 82.31 miles. Conciencia y Preparacin, Weather Safety National Weather Service Hale,Bibb, Perry, Shelby,Talladega and Clay Counties I was 10 years old at the time. Local Climate Data It crossed the highway and rolled a manufactured home along Autauga County Road 40. Go Back AccuWeather's Tornado Week continues: How meteorologists are working to . We took off fairly early that morning as I recall and climbed to 8000 and received our assigned working area from the controller. Bob looked up at me with an uh-oh expression, for lack of a better word. No wind, calm as could be. Copyright 2021 WBRC. Weather Service Office Significantly Damaged, Roof of Weather Service Office Centreville. Sir, As a child my family would sometimes stay at the Cinderella Motel while enroute to Miami Fl. Severe Weather Videos NWS In Bibb County, one person was injured in Ashby as a manufactured home was overturned, according to the weather service. Regional Highs/Lows/Rainfall, Forecasts Past Events Questions? He swallowed a quick cup of coffee and a biscuit and grabbed his turtle shell hat. Bob was at the teletype sending a message regarding another storm in another part of central Alabama that was also being tracked. This tornado made a lasting impression on me we lived in Mobilebut traveled to Birmingham once a month.Hwy 5 was our route and my dad made a special stop to show us the destructive power of a tornado.Ive been interested in them ever since that day when at the age of 11 I was awed by the power of tornadoes. I remember this event quite well. We walked outside to inspect the damage. Cheaha. In Hoover, winds sparked a brush fire near the City Heights apartment complex off Lorna Road. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Bobs family was safe after having taken refuge in an interior closet. Tornado Warnings Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather My sister and I both survived but had sustained many injuries. So much more I could tell . To this day severe weather bothers me . The tornado continued northeast to County Road 42, causing massive tree damage along Autauga Creek. Brent, AL is a Very High Risk area for tornados. Now i live in Charlotte N.C. Ive got to find a hill so I can see just what were dealing with, my granddad said. I ran into my grandparents bedroom. The church looked like a large chain had cut a v from front to back forminf a v in the roof. Conciencia y Preparacin, Weather Safety In Brent near the railroad was two huge tanks that belonged to Olen Belchers saw mill was blown several hundred feet. The meat house next to their house was leveled. A string of those tornado reports likely came from one storm, one long-lived supercell storm. There was warning of the approaching storm shortly before its arrival and the congregation rushed into the basement. what does myg mean in jewelry,