Alabama's Worst Storms, Ever- UPDATE!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Praise You In The Storm
The tornado hit in the woods right past the tree in the upper left corner of the photo.  That is the closest I have ever come to feeling like we weren't going to make it.  Sirens went off 30 minutes before we were hit.  However, we were given no real information about this 5am storm, just a wind advisory on the weather radio that didn't really mention our particular area.  The local shelter (basement of a church) was locked for those that did go and they had to weather the storm in the doorway.  

What I learned:

• Always keep the gas tank above half-full
• Store fuel for chainsaws, generators, etc. (and have those items!)
• Rotate a food stash that can be served without refrigeration or cooking (at least 3 days)
• Batteries, batteries, batteries!  Keep in a Tupperware type of container in the fridge--especially for lanterns and radios (esp. weather radios)
• Keep 1-2 bags of ice in freezer at all times (it may be awhile before you can get to a store
• Keep $200 in cash handy

We are only able to communicate via Facebook since I can plug in my computer.  I think it will be a week before we get power and phones.  I truly feel we came so close to losing our home and even our lives.  So many people have lost their homes completely.  The fear of this prompted me to bring along air mattresses and my photo albums (negatives and disks as well) to the shelter.  I am also dead set on building a storm shelter now.  
April 30, 2011, Addendum:

Thanks ladies for lending us your husbands and boys!
Some final words:
(source from Cullman Electric Cooperative, Alabama Living, June 2011)

It was the storm that went through Bangor/Blountsville at 5 am that made the biggest mess on our property and in our county.