A couple of the Mets admitted to vomiting when they saw the clear blue sky searly in the morning of the Twenty seventh! Thea knew death and destruction was absolutely eminent!
4:34 "Wrap up in blankets, pillows, and a helmet if you can." Never heard that kind of warning before, but judging from how monstrous this storm was, it was actually pretty sage advice! And the note about belongings and property, very true. Belongings and property can be replaced, you can't!
That is one warning I would never hear either recently I had a storm with rotation that was radar indicated, but the national weather service issued a tornado warning for Collin County in Texas and then a tornado touched down after it passed where I lived.
+debwood1999 - We hear that more and more now these days. Seems like such a simple thing that nobody has ever thought of before. The #1 cause of death in a tornado is the flying debris and head trauma. A good quality football helmet is a very good idea. A mattress, if it stays on you, will also help protect from smaller debris from cutting you up. It won't help if a 2x4 comes flying in. We've come a long long way since 1974 when you weren't even allowed to mention the word "tornado" for fear of making people panic. "Tornado warning" has become nothing. We hear it too much and it really doesn't mean anything. "Tornado Emergency" will perk your ears up! The best plan of action is to be prepared and have everything ready. If tornado weather is predicted you should be wearing sturdy blue jeans to protect your legs and good tennis shoes. So many times due to the weather being hot, we are in shorts and flip flops and those aren't good clothing if you are having to walk through debris.
+seywhut2985 That's good advice as well, with the jeans and shoes. I rarely wear shorts, even in the summer, so I'm halfway prepared in that sense, LOL. Jeans and sturdy shoes could make the difference between minor cuts due to tornado debris and severe injuries and blood loss.
As a former storm chaser thats very good advice no matter what kind of tornado,helmets,heavy gloves,hiking boots and extra clothing in a plastic bag is a must to have.Many injuries come from after the tornado has passed trying to get out of rubble and trying to help other's out of it.
That's an excellent point & a very helpful list Maxx! :) The one thing that I would add to the list are some masks to prevent dust, mould, and other airborne stuff from getting into the nose, mouth, and respiratory system. In the past, a lot of first responders & rescue workers get quite sick from breathing in & touching all the dust, mould, bacteria, etc that has been trapped in the walls & roofs of buildings/houses, then released when those structures are damaged/destroyed. In fact, a number of emergency workers & volunteers who worked in the rubble of Joplin, MO got very sick & some even died from exposure to pathogens, toxins, allergens, etc. So having several masks just in case is a wise idea.
The Cullman tornado came all the way up to my hometown Arab as a F4 tornado. Was 1/4 a mile from my house. We lived in a mobile home at the time and were on the way to my mom's work to find shelter but then large hail started coming down, we turned around and went home. If we didn't turn around, we would have died. I'm so blessed to be alive today.
James Spann was offered big money and jobs at The Weather Channel and by KFOR in Oklahoma City but he knows his place is here in central Alabama and keeping us safe.
@@edwardsr70 His viewers are some of the luckiest folks in the nation. I live in the midwest and we would do ANYTHING to have James here looking out for us. I hope the next generation of meteorologists are studying him closely.
@@RT-qd8yl I grew up in the Birmingham area but moved to Montgomery after college and lived there for 15 years. Josh Johnson does a great job but I missed James those entire 15 years! My family moved back to the Bham area in 2021 and it feels silly to be so relieved to be back in his viewing area, but I am. He takes such good care of us.
You, your ABC and FOX affiliates down there...you all did a fantastic job under terrible conditions. Your stations collectively deserve Emmy's for your outstanding coverage. As a meteorologist who was watching it from afar up here near Chicago, I knew it was going to be very bad...sadly, the storms lived up to expectations. But what also lived up to expectations was your people setting the example of helping each other out...and the broadcasters coming together to keep everyone informed...
We appreciated it a lot. My dad was hit by it.He survived it lifted him up in the air and rolled it twisted it up. He only had bruises and cuts from being wrapped up in a comforter in the pantry. Even are Puddle Chihuahua and bird lived. He didn't get his self to safety first. He got the animal's to safety first. He only lost a tennis shoe and the bruises cuts was on his back from cans falling on him in the pantry. He said before impact it got silent he told me he never prayed so hard in his life. God wasn't ready for him that day, the whole single wide trailer was twisted 40yards it moved it off the bricks and rolled it with him inside. I will never forget helping clean up the rubbish. His front porch was not touched, a stone angel on the step didn't even move from it's spot, it stayed in the same spot. That day I put all my trust in the man above I have trouble looking back knowing he climbed out after it throwed his trailer and he came to the apartments for shelter right after being tossed like that. He still was able to grab all the animals and come to the storm shelter where we was staying inside at the time. He seen the tornado on his way to us on the highway in traffic coming to the storm shelter we was in. A true heart of gold a man with more then 9 life's his 50 right now and still alive his not in the best place but his alive that's all that matters.
Thing is, even a basement may not protect you from an F5. A well designed storm shelter, but that's about it. I personally know someone whose neighbor was sucked out of their underground storm shelter by another f5 in another part of the state.
+Tyler Farr The problem is, in parts of the south, especially where they have red clay soil, the ground's foundation doesn't support houses with basements. This makes basements much more susceptible to basement flooding, and it makes construction of houses with basements so expensive that it's not worth it. Too bad such places are also in some of the most tornado-prone places in the country, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
When the tornado reached the Birmingham area my heart was in my chest as I watched the event as it happened on the Weather Channel. The storm hit the Pleasant Grove and Pratt City communities of Birmingham. All my people were alright. Some damages to my cousins house occurred but no one was hurt. But for those who lost family or family members were injured, my heartfelt condolences go out to you.
I really love this video. I used to suffer a severe lilapsophobia, which is the fear of tornadoes, but watching this video made me feel that there are people there that will help you and they are there for you.
Warrior Cats Ftw yeah i had that fear last year from August to December, i always was on the watch all night for tornadoes and when there was a storm, i would be so scared that i would go downstairs cause i felt protected there.
Warrior Cats Ftw I feel ya on the fear of tornadoes. I live in Alabama,and I remember that day all too well. it never did hit our county,but it was a tragic day. Even now,when I hear thunderstorm,my mind automatically goes back to this day.I don't fear so much for myself as I do my family and my fur babies. You're right,there are people out there to help you..that are there for you. I'm going for my BA in psychology to become one of those people,God Willing.
proud2bpagan i know you are being sincere because of the date which you commented . april 27th . that was a day i will never forget , i live in trenton ga. and we got hit by a EF3 :/
I like Prater a lot but he's trying to convey "don't be scared" while I see fear in his face and hear it in his voice - smile or not. And, really, I can't blame him.
Considering what he was seeing he did the best he could and did a great job. However you could see the fear in his eyes and him trying to get his composure back.
Whenever I watch this video, I get scared all over again! There are 2 generational weather events that I PRAY none of us ever see again. And that is of course, this one from April 2011 and the other is the March 1993 blizzard. If anything akin to either of those ever happens again, I sure hope it is after my time on Earth is over!
at first he said not to worry but be ready. I think he changed his mind after one actually happened. He seems freaked out at the end. That same outbreak came into our area in E Tn and in our county and killed 7 folks and one in the next county. It was not expected since its rare in our part of E Tn....
Simpson had family in the path of one of the early morning storms, and - as he revealed later - it was hours before he knew that they were ok. His holding it together as well as he did during that time is a credit to his professionalism. Also, remember that Simpson had first gone on the air at around 3 am! And there he was on the air with Spann until, what, 11 pm? That's a really LONG day. So I don't blame any of them for losing a little composure on the air... they're people too after all... and - as long as they don't flip out on air - I think their reaction helps to convey the seriousness of the situation.
I lived through this. My first ever tornado experience. The damage it did to Tuscaloosa, the lives that it took, it made me shiver every time I thought about it, and when all of our neighbors were outside on the street, watching it form. That tornado formed in the woods in our neighbor hood, then thankfully curved over.
I noticed that you put Hans Zimmer's "Time" in the background of the video. Just wanted to say well done sir. You actually put a background song at a volume where it doesn't interrupt the video in anyway but you hear it in moments of silence with the dialogue. Not many people have the restraint to do that these days without totally ruining the video with the volume!
Some people don't take the weather serious .. That's why it be so many deaths .. N some just don't take cover at all.. A tornado can tear up just about anything .. If you live in a mobile home seek shelter n a more sturdier building really the best place to be is underground .. If you live in a house with a basement go the basement .. I know some people take the weather as a joke but not me some ain't afraid or just don't care until it start coming at em n start crying in pissing on themselves like big babies .. REMEMBER THE TORNADO WATCH IS YOUR WARNING ALWAYS BE PREPARED
Actually THE MAIN reasons for the staggering death toll were tornadoes and tornado-warned storms plowed through the area beginning around 4 AM, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people (including myself. Didn't come back on for a few days) leaving all those affected in the dark in more ways than one. Then you had so many massive destructive tornadoes hitting cities instead of Dorothy's barn out on the barren plains. And it wasn't one a day. It was dozens in several hours. And they were destroying houses including brick houses at a higher rate than mobile homes. In other words, you don't have the slightest idea about what you're talking about so go f*** yourself, broad.
Got actually emotional when he started telling people that they were going to get them through this and they were going to make it through. Gosh what on earth could be going through the meteorologists minds during those moments.
Here's a story. On April 27, 2011 (the day in the video) my parents were driving home from a doctor's appointment. There were stormy clouds and they went east because of a confirmed tornado. The tornado broke in two and one part came east. They stopped at a gas station and got a map because there was no GPS. 20 minutes later that gas station was obliterated. The people inside the gas station stayed in the freezer and survived. They drove for an hour or so before returning to their home (also my home). There were tons of tornadoes this day and me and my parents were lucky to survive. Rest In Peace for the people who died this day.
9:10 Crossing I-359 9:15-9:55 Wood Manor/ downtown 10:05 McFarland & 15th/ University Mall 10:10 Alberta city 10:20 Peterson area Damn that was a fast sucker.
I'm the weather nerd's weather nerd. If it is storm related, I've been involved with it since my late teens...In my late 50's now. All that for this. Alabama's meteorologists and the National Storm Prediction center were all over this tornado outbreak DAYS before it happened. They saw it coming together bit by bit and by the 26th, Mark, Rich, James Spann and Jason Simpson (can't forget him...he was brilliant too) were not only warning people 24 hours ahead of the outbreak but knew exactly what to say..."Treat every circulation like it is on the ground." The huge gut punch was the fact most of the state was without power from the morning storms. It is the only explanation for how many people died with these guys calling storm paths an hour before impact. All I can add is if you live in Alabama or Oklahoma, provided you actually listen to advice given, you have meteorologists that can read a supercell like a newspaper. Brilliant eggs...
"Your gonna be alright, we will get you through this" seconds later "wow! this is a massive violant tornado.. my gosh as violent as it gets" lol kudos for trying to reassure the people while still being real
I feel for everyone that has to go through these terrible tragedies. I went through tornadoes in the outbreak of 1974 but wasn't hit directly. Prayers go out to the victims and survivors of these storms. God bless everyone that has been through these tornadoes.
I'm from athens Alabama and i lived through this. Me and my family almost died that day but thanks to my grandma's house we survived. I still have ptsd whenever weather gets bad I will never forget that day and the countless of lives lost And the scar it left on the Tennessee valley
Oh man I feel for you. This tornado is one I just happened to witness & this one in particular does haunt me. I can only imagine how badly it haunts you my friend. Praying for you.
I live in Montgomery Alabama and this day was scary a f for me. I was in the 7th grade at the time and we had checked out of school early because of those morning storms. We I got home from checking out I saw the live feed of the Tuscaloosa tornado on WSFA. I was almost shitless because I thought it would hit every major city in alabama. Luckily Montgomery and southward did not get any impacts. However the suburbs of Elmore county got an EF4. Scary. Ever since that day we have not gotten that many tornadoes though. By that I mean below average. However I can't complain because I would never wanna see another April 27th again.
That same system went into Tn and SW Va later the next day. 8 people were killed in our area of Greene/Washington Co. in Tn. We watch the weather and the skies seriously now in the Spring and Fall since 2011.
timothy myers the biggest part of damage from the EF3 tornado was in the Camp Creek community near the Cherokee National Forest. A lot of folks live in that rural area and a monument has been placed there to remember the 8 folks that were killed
I was looking for the one that hit our area in E Tn but didn't see it. It happened about 11pm and I don't think anyone saw it but it sure tore up some homes that night. I live in town just NW of the affected area and the supercell was headed my way. All I saw was lightning above the clouds and an eery quite.
About to come up on 13 years next month. Was 12 years old at the time and the tornado was a mile and a half away from my childhood home. You could feel it and it sounded like a freight train. I remember seeing the faces of my mom and dad and neighbors (we were in neighbors basement at the time) when they saw on tv the tornado. It took weeks to get power lines, debris, trees, etc. cleaned up. God bless the families that lost their homes or lost loved ones. Very thankful to had gotten through such a scary time
My God I remember this day like yesterday. I lived about 35 miles east of downtown Birmingham. My mom woke me and my brother up around 7:30 that morning. We didn’t know school was cancelled because my mom used to wake us up at that age. Anyway I looked outside my window, it was COMPLETELY DARK! I was terrified thinking I was about to die. The winds were so strong and raining super hard. We went to her bedroom and laid in her bed, sirens were going off. My neighbor came over because her house didn’t have protection as us. It was so scary, I am getting chills thinking about it. Y’all do not understand the fear we had that day. Tornadoes EVERYWHERE! Deaths all over the state. No school for an week, it was crazy. We had the morning storms and then the afternoon storms. It was so insane. God I wouldn’t bring this on my enemies.
When he said something along the lines of “ I tell ya what, any tornado we mention today, consider it on the ground”, that caught me off guard. Usually they wait to confirm things, but man, you know it’s bad when they say that. I thought the guy was awesome.
Normally, you *should not* make a statement like that in broadcasting. That’s seen as alarmist and irresponsible. However, with the benefit of hindsight, I would argue this declaration saved some lives because you can’t show every tornado on camera, and this was a high risk scenario that absolutely ended up playing out as expected… with 200k+ people who had lost commercial electricity. It had to be treated as a high level hazard.
@@PublicAtLarge This. Hundreds of LIVES in Alabama were Saved alone because of that Statement. They weren't PLAYING any games. Everyone knew this was SERIOUS.
@@Graphics_Card Hundreds of LIVES in Alabama were Saved alone because of that Statement. They weren't PLAYING any games. Everyone knew this was SERIOUS.
+Shreya Choudhury Especially scary is the fact that, anyone in the direct path of the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornado was basically NOT going to survive unless they could shelter either underground or in tornado safe rooms! This is because, in an EF4-EF5 tornado, well-built frame houses get LEVELED! This means that people who sheltered in interior rooms from this thing probably didn't survive. You see, a person CAN survive some 99 percent of tornadoes just by sheltering in his or her house's interior room on the lowest floor. But this is only because 99 percent of all tornadoes are in the range of EF0-EF3. It's that 1 percent of tornadoes that are violent (EF4-EF5) that are NOT survivable unless you're either underground or are in a Safe Room.
What people outside of Alabama didn't know was the afternoon setup was preceded by a line of powerful storms with embedded EF-2 and 3 tornadoes that hit the entire region at dawn. We were without power after they came through and a small tornado destroyed our back yard and tore a line through the back of our neighborhood knocking down trees and then destroying several miles of residential neighborhoods south of I459. That knocked out power everywhere in this area including the sirens. So if that happened to us I imagine it happened to the areas that were affected by the tornadoes.
Duke Of_Cleveland_East there’s a video interview posted by the National Weather Service in Huntsville. One of the warning meteorologists mentioned seeing a debris ball just after Hackleburg was hit. She knew that Hackleburg had just been leveled.
I have been a storm spotter and chaser since 2003 and I have to say the tornado in Tuscaloosa was scary looking but the tornado in El Reno Oklahoma may 31 2013 was the worst and the biggest on record so far and it takes a lot to scare me but that day I was scared and scared for everyone in it's path
I've been in a tornado before at 5 years old, an apartment with no basement. Heavy hail, strong winds and rain, I've been scarred ever since. But this, this was terrible. My best friend has been through that tornado, and she was traumatized for a long time. She's getting better but it still haunts her.
@@katiecookie7796 Good thing you are alive and well. I have only seen one tornado in my lifetime and it was in Houston back in 1992. We had our outbreak during November 21, 1992.
This is an outbreak that could've very well taken out that office,even with their reinforced structure. God Bless the meterologists and spotters,and God rest the dead.
I’m from Fairborn (a suburb of Dayton) we recently just missed an ef4 it was first heading right towards us, then right as it almost entered Fairborn it started going more south it was one of the scariest nights, although it didn’t hit Fairborn there was insulation and debris EVERYWHERE it was insane
I suspect WIAT itself posted this footage. Hopefully, the full unedited live broadcast (I suspect WIAT was on the air for hours on end) will be posted. April 27th, 2011 was the Finest Hour in the history of Central Alabama television. The efforts of the local TV stations may have saved thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, of lives.
Back in 1999, KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City did a video cassette of their coverage of the Moore F-5. Are there any plans to make one of those that extend through the tornado striking Birmingham?
Thank you for the coverage of the Cordova/Sumiton tornado especially showing that neighborhood on that hill in sumiton. 9 people died there and 4 people died in Cordova. It moved on to sipsey but im not sure if anybody died there.
James spann almost lost his composure as well when he asked someone about the students at the university of Alabama. I wouldn't expect anything less on that day tbh
I know. Everything has advanced so much since then but this is one particular tornado that haunts me to this day. I chased this EF4 that day years ago.
1:40 for all of us in Mississippi, atleast in amory the tornado sirens were constantly going off all day long, it was a really long day, didnt help that we lost power aswell. Man, it amazes me the human mind, why we have these random urges to relive past events even if we dont remember them fondly.
i remember this! i was in third grade at the time. our school system barely let us out of school, and we only got out an two hours before it got bad. it was so scary
i couldn't get into a safe shelter, either. I was in a mobile home, unable to move because we didn't have a car or anything. i was with my dad and two of my sisters while my mom was at work and my sister and grandmother were stuck in a winn dixie
Does anyone recall how many tornadoes touched down that day? I seem to remember the number being over 100 for Alabama alone. And about every 10 years is right. Huntsville's been hit by multiple tornadoes in my years (45), but the ones I remember hearing the most about were EF5's in 1973 (or 74), 1989, and 2011
This is why i still hate weather to this day. I lived through this tornado and it gives me terrible memories every time i think back on it. My family and i were so lucky, we were in a church basement as it hit. I hope the families of the people who didnt make it are recovering safely.
We went through this outbreak...we found debris from tuscaloosa here in Tennessee in our back yards...this was probably the scariest day of my life thus far.
Things like this are so incredibly terrifying. It's hard to look at something like a tornado that size, understand just how dangerous it can be, and not end up crying in fear. This happened over a decade ago and just watching this footage for the first time has me deeply shaken. The technology for tracking, predicting, and accounting for stuff like this has improved a lot, but, like, I didn't realize a tornado can just rip the asphalt off the ground and fling it. Obviously, it can pick up a house with a weak foundation, but the idea of it picking up a road feels just so impossible to me the fact that WIND can do it feels like some kind of divine retribution. Absolutely awe-inspiring in that profoundly terrifying way.
I will never forget this devastating day and pray to God it that it never happens again! May God have mercy on the souls that were lost and everyone who was affected.
You know I live in Cordova. I have watched these videos for years. YEARS. I've seen every April tornado coverage of Alabama. Have watched everything and yall are the ONLY CHANNEL that has shown footage or even talked about Cordova. 2 children died here and I blame it on the extremely late to no warnings for this area here. I bet yall saved more life's than you know being the only channel to show this area. And no one ever talks about how we were hit early that morning and were literally with no power until minutes before the big event happen. We had so many damages buildings and home before this ever happened.
This year has featured some pretty insane weather so far! I’ve been watching videos saying that this year could be a historic year in terms of severe weather and possibly similar to the outbreaks of 2011!
I've watched this so many times. I love chasing and this day made me go from spotting to chasing. If it wasn't for these guys, there would have been a lot more casualties.
vanhouten64 The music is from the Inception movie soundtrack. The user added the music to the news. It's cool music and interesting reporting but together it just sounds...like I'm watching a movie. It's too cinematic and dramatic.
Not only was it scary there in Alabama but it was awful they day before in Texas which is where I live trust me I was in the path of one of those storms
RainbowDiamond25 MC The same happened for us in the Wichita area in 2013, we had a huge storm, tornado emergency, one of the news stations had to move in their basements. Next day, the infamous Moore EF5 tornado that killed dozens.
Yes and no. This kind of day is exceptionally rare for ANYWHERE, but if it is going to happen, This is one of the main areas of the country where it would statistically happen. All three "super outbreaks" in this nation's history have produced violent tornadoes in Alabama. Alabama is the heart of "Dixie Alley" and has just as many F5/EF5 tornadoes on record since 1950 (when reliable tornado records began) as the state of Oklahoma.
The April 26th label was only pertaining to the day-before newscast at the beginning of the video. The video highlights their coverage before, during, and after the event.
I have a bad feeling that even the April 27, 2011 tornado Super Outbreak doesn't HOLD A CANDLE to just how bad a tornado outbreak can get in the Southern Plains (which include the states of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas)! I worry that one of these days, the Southern Plains will get a tornado Super Outbreak that will blow even the April 27, 2011 Super Outbreak out of the water! I'm afraid that there is at least the remote possibility that, during mid-late May, Tulsa, Oklahoma might someday experience an air temperature of 95 degrees F. and an UNBELIEVABLY high dew point of 88 degrees F. This would cause a Heat Index of 134 degrees F.! It would also mean that, if there's high wind shear in place, then the air over Tulsa would be EXPLOSIVELY unstable! Here's one way that such a temperature and dew point configuration might happen: an EXTREMELY powerful low-level jet (which is a jet stream that's at the 850-millibar height) with winds of over 100 knots blowing in the extremely warm and extremely moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, PLUS practically clear skies from mid-morning through late afternoon (allowing for maximum daytime heating... and hence: maximum instability). If Tulsa and the rest of the Warm Sector have temperatures in the 90's and dew points in the 80's, and if there were also EXTREME wind shear (with such ridiculously high SRH*'s as 800 m2/s2 or even higher), then this would inevitably touch off the most EXTREME tornado outbreak in recorded history! In just one day, this kind of setup might produce over 1,000 tornadoes in the Southern Plains; and 100 percent of all the supercells that form that day would go on to spawn at least 1 tornado. Usually, even in tornado outbreaks, most supercells DON'T form tornadoes. Well, during the Super Outbreak of April 27, 2011, 90 percent of the supercells that formed spawned tornadoes! Anyways, here's my estimation of what the very worst-case scenario tornado outbreak in the Southern Plains might be like: Total Tornadoes: 1,225 EF0: 289 EF1: 416 EF2: 210 EF3: 150 EF4: 100 EF5: 60 Lives Lost: At least 600 Number of Violent Tornadoes (EF4-EF5): 160 Cities Destroyed by Tornadoes: Wichita Falls, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Springfield, Missouri (not part of the Southern Plains, but several tornadoes from there could easily track from the Southern Plains through that city); Little Rock, Arkansas; Dallas, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas * SRH: Storm Relative Helicity. The higher this number is, the higher the wind shear. Tornadoes just *LOVE* wind shear!
same...and another thing is that four years later after this on the same day as the super Tuesday tornado outbreak in central Arkansas a powerful tornado just happens to form and stay on the ground for a long time, weird
Ehh, I see where you're coming from. I highly doubt, however, an outbreak could beat this regardless of location. Tornado outbreaks and deadly tornadoes are not something I brag about, nor ever would I. It's an undisputed fact that the south-east is extremely conducive for tornadoes, particularly deadly ones. It's unfortunate I have to say it, because it's never anything to be proud of.
I've been thru 3 tornadoes in Birmingham and it NEVER gets easier (77,98,2011). To me the one in 98 was just as bad as 2011. I live in Pratt city ( suburb of Bham). We always get hit HARD!
I feel ya, i live in forestdale and was watching the tornado cross the highway, i was close to jet pep/milos on top of hill on 78, will never forget how it look and the sound..i was blessed that it missed my house by half a mile!
I don't ever want to see another EF5 come thru Bham. You never get over it. Especially when your neighborhood is the one that is destroyed. I still get the creeps when the clouds get dark.... Like today! *sigh*
This is amazing. 2011 in April was horrible for tornados. I saw my first major tornado that year here in NC with an EF3. I grew up in tornado alley and I never saw or live through one like I did in 2011. I never want to see it again. Moving here you expected possibly seeing hurricanes, but not major tornados.
just seeing the how calm and composed these people are really help me when theres large thunderstorms near my house. even though i live in the maryland dc area and there are very few tornadoes, i still fear tornadoes quite a bit.
Mark Prater stands with James Spann in terms of professionalism, dedication, and communication skills... this guy did a fantastic job that day
He worked under Spann for a while
But his personal life WAS in shambles😳😔
Don’t forget about Jason Simpson.
@@handsome-brute2666 yeah he got booked
A couple of the Mets admitted to vomiting when they saw the clear blue sky searly in the morning of the Twenty seventh! Thea knew death and destruction was absolutely eminent!
4:34 "Wrap up in blankets, pillows, and a helmet if you can." Never heard that kind of warning before, but judging from how monstrous this storm was, it was actually pretty sage advice! And the note about belongings and property, very true. Belongings and property can be replaced, you can't!
That is one warning I would never hear either recently I had a storm with rotation that was radar indicated, but the national weather service issued a tornado warning for Collin County in Texas and then a tornado touched down after it passed where I lived.
+debwood1999 - We hear that more and more now these days. Seems like such a simple thing that nobody has ever thought of before. The #1 cause of death in a tornado is the flying debris and head trauma. A good quality football helmet is a very good idea. A mattress, if it stays on you, will also help protect from smaller debris from cutting you up. It won't help if a 2x4 comes flying in. We've come a long long way since 1974 when you weren't even allowed to mention the word "tornado" for fear of making people panic. "Tornado warning" has become nothing. We hear it too much and it really doesn't mean anything. "Tornado Emergency" will perk your ears up! The best plan of action is to be prepared and have everything ready. If tornado weather is predicted you should be wearing sturdy blue jeans to protect your legs and good tennis shoes. So many times due to the weather being hot, we are in shorts and flip flops and those aren't good clothing if you are having to walk through debris.
+seywhut2985 That's good advice as well, with the jeans and shoes. I rarely wear shorts, even in the summer, so I'm halfway prepared in that sense, LOL. Jeans and sturdy shoes could make the difference between minor cuts due to tornado debris and severe injuries and blood loss.
Well some property can be replaced. Not disagreeing with you but some photos can't be replaced.
You know it's serious when the weatherman is telling you to put on a helmet.
+DJDannyUhOh It's actually very good advice.
As a former storm chaser thats very good advice no matter what kind of tornado,helmets,heavy gloves,hiking boots and extra clothing in a plastic bag is a must to have.Many injuries come from after the tornado has passed trying to get out of rubble and trying to help other's out of it.
That's an excellent point & a very helpful list Maxx! :) The one thing that I would add to the list are some masks to prevent dust, mould, and other airborne stuff from getting into the nose, mouth, and respiratory system. In the past, a lot of first responders & rescue workers get quite sick from breathing in & touching all the dust, mould, bacteria, etc that has been trapped in the walls & roofs of buildings/houses, then released when those structures are damaged/destroyed. In fact, a number of emergency workers & volunteers who worked in the rubble of Joplin, MO got very sick & some even died from exposure to pathogens, toxins, allergens, etc. So having several masks just in case is a wise idea.
it's expensive as hell to do...avg chaser will spend 35,000 dollars for 3 months of chasing in the plains
Every little piece of advice helps.
The Cullman tornado came all the way up to my hometown Arab as a F4 tornado. Was 1/4 a mile from my house. We lived in a mobile home at the time and were on the way to my mom's work to find shelter but then large hail started coming down, we turned around and went home. If we didn't turn around, we would have died. I'm so blessed to be alive today.
+Shelby Watts Bless you.
the only thing that matters is that your alive
Shelby Watts
god bless, he had his hand over u the whole time!❤❤
I cannot even imagine what that must have been like. I live in Michigan and something like this is a rarity.
Michael I live in a state where we rarely get tornadoes/severe weather too
Kalee is now in Kansas City. She won an Edward R. Murrow award for her coverage of the 2011 outbreak.
James Spann was offered big money and jobs at The Weather Channel and by KFOR in Oklahoma City but he knows his place is here in central Alabama and keeping us safe.
@@edwardsr70 His viewers are some of the luckiest folks in the nation. I live in the midwest and we would do ANYTHING to have James here looking out for us. I hope the next generation of meteorologists are studying him closely.
@@RT-qd8yl I grew up in the Birmingham area but moved to Montgomery after college and lived there for 15 years. Josh Johnson does a great job but I missed James those entire 15 years! My family moved back to the Bham area in 2021 and it feels silly to be so relieved to be back in his viewing area, but I am. He takes such good care of us.
You, your ABC and FOX affiliates down there...you all did a fantastic job under terrible conditions. Your stations collectively deserve Emmy's for your outstanding coverage. As a meteorologist who was watching it from afar up here near Chicago, I knew it was going to be very bad...sadly, the storms lived up to expectations. But what also lived up to expectations was your people setting the example of helping each other out...and the broadcasters coming together to keep everyone informed...
Well said!
I love how calm and how reassuring they are. I'm sure the people of Alabama greatly appreciated this.
We did, very much. It was very scary though at the time.
We appreciated it a lot. My dad was hit by it.He survived it lifted him up in the air and rolled it twisted it up. He only had bruises and cuts from being wrapped up in a comforter in the pantry. Even are Puddle Chihuahua and bird lived. He didn't get his self to safety first. He got the animal's to safety first. He only lost a tennis shoe and the bruises cuts was on his back from cans falling on him in the pantry. He said before impact it got silent he told me he never prayed so hard in his life. God wasn't ready for him that day, the whole single wide trailer was twisted 40yards it moved it off the bricks and rolled it with him inside. I will never forget helping clean up the rubbish. His front porch was not touched, a stone angel on the step didn't even move from it's spot, it stayed in the same spot. That day I put all my trust in the man above I have trouble looking back knowing he climbed out after it throwed his trailer and he came to the apartments for shelter right after being tossed like that. He still was able to grab all the animals and come to the storm shelter where we was staying inside at the time. He seen the tornado on his way to us on the highway in traffic coming to the storm shelter we was in. A true heart of gold a man with more then 9 life's his 50 right now and still alive his not in the best place but his alive that's all that matters.
@@himik0xo355 Yes we did!
Should be illegal for a building in tornado alley to not have a basement
+Shadow Bolt Statistically, Alabama has nearly the amount of tornadoes as tornado alley.
Texas is apart of tornado alley but no basements
Thing is, even a basement may not protect you from an F5. A well designed storm shelter, but that's about it. I personally know someone whose neighbor was sucked out of their underground storm shelter by another f5 in another part of the state.
+Tyler Farr The problem is, in parts of the south, especially where they have red clay soil, the ground's foundation doesn't support houses with basements. This makes basements much more susceptible to basement flooding, and it makes construction of houses with basements so expensive that it's not worth it. Too bad such places are also in some of the most tornado-prone places in the country, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
Fred McKinney Same with Texas and Oklahoma. Except their issue is bedrock. It's far too solid to build basements. Thankfully, I live in Kansas.
When the tornado reached the Birmingham area my heart was in my chest as I watched the event as it happened on the Weather Channel. The storm hit the Pleasant Grove and Pratt City communities of Birmingham. All my people were alright. Some damages to my cousins house occurred but no one was hurt. But for those who lost family or family members were injured, my heartfelt condolences go out to you.
My heart is always in my chest
@@K1rkles beat me to it
I really love this video. I used to suffer a severe lilapsophobia, which is the fear of tornadoes, but watching this video made me feel that there are people there that will help you and they are there for you.
Warrior Cats Ftw yeah i had that fear last year from August to December, i always was on the watch all night for tornadoes and when there was a storm, i would be so scared that i would go downstairs cause i felt protected there.
Warrior Cats Ftw I feel ya on the fear of tornadoes. I live in Alabama,and I remember that day all too well. it never did hit our county,but it was a tragic day. Even now,when I hear thunderstorm,my mind automatically goes back to this day.I don't fear so much for myself as I do my family and my fur babies. You're right,there are people out there to help you..that are there for you. I'm going for my BA in psychology to become one of those people,God Willing.
proud2bpagan i know you are being sincere because of the date which you commented . april 27th . that was a day i will never forget , i live in trenton ga. and we got hit by a EF3 :/
Warrior Cats Ftw I feel you. Oh, and what's your ROBLOX username? I wanna play with you someday
FireHatesSchool Roblox Uh no i am not playing with you. Kinda creepy and roblox is stupid too x. X
I will say we in Alabama prob have the BEST meteorologists in the world
Oklahoma also.....
Dymondé alabama is still ahead of oklahoma, all okc has is gary england
James spann best metrologist
They are good.. but I dont think you told the folks in Oklahoma City that you were holding a contest.
Yeah I live in Montgomery Alabama
I like Prater a lot but he's trying to convey "don't be scared" while I see fear in his face and hear it in his voice - smile or not.
And, really, I can't blame him.
Considering what he was seeing he did the best he could and did a great job. However you could see the fear in his eyes and him trying to get his composure back.
Whenever I watch this video, I get scared all over again! There are 2 generational weather events that I PRAY none of us ever see again. And that is of course, this one from April 2011 and the other is the March 1993 blizzard. If anything akin to either of those ever happens again, I sure hope it is after my time on Earth is over!
at first he said not to worry but be ready. I think he changed his mind after one actually happened. He seems freaked out at the end. That same outbreak came into our area in E Tn and in our county and killed 7 folks and one in the next county. It was not expected since its rare in our part of E Tn....
+NVRAMboi I don't blame Prater either. I didn't see fear so much as a sense of urgency, though. But scared or not, he held his composure like a champ!
Simpson had family in the path of one of the early morning storms, and - as he revealed later - it was hours before he knew that they were ok. His holding it together as well as he did during that time is a credit to his professionalism.
Also, remember that Simpson had first gone on the air at around 3 am! And there he was on the air with Spann until, what, 11 pm? That's a really LONG day. So I don't blame any of them for losing a little composure on the air... they're people too after all... and - as long as they don't flip out on air - I think their reaction helps to convey the seriousness of the situation.
I lived through this. My first ever tornado experience. The damage it did to Tuscaloosa, the lives that it took, it made me shiver every time I thought about it, and when all of our neighbors were outside on the street, watching it form. That tornado formed in the woods in our neighbor hood, then thankfully curved over.
I wish Dr. Fujita was here to give us his opinion about what happened that day. That was unreal
Those days (April 25-28) would be field days for Dr. Fujita. But may he rest in peace.
It should be an F5
I absolutely agree Barbara
I noticed that you put Hans Zimmer's "Time" in the background of the video. Just wanted to say well done sir. You actually put a background song at a volume where it doesn't interrupt the video in anyway but you hear it in moments of silence with the dialogue. Not many people have the restraint to do that these days without totally ruining the video with the volume!
Some people don't take the weather serious .. That's why it be so many deaths .. N some just don't take cover at all.. A tornado can tear up just about anything .. If you live in a mobile home seek shelter n a more sturdier building really the best place to be is underground .. If you live in a house with a basement go the basement .. I know some people take the weather as a joke but not me some ain't afraid or just don't care until it start coming at em n start crying in pissing on themselves like big babies .. REMEMBER THE TORNADO WATCH IS YOUR WARNING ALWAYS BE PREPARED
Actually THE MAIN reasons for the staggering death toll were tornadoes and tornado-warned storms plowed through the area beginning around 4 AM, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people (including myself. Didn't come back on for a few days) leaving all those affected in the dark in more ways than one. Then you had so many massive destructive tornadoes hitting cities instead of Dorothy's barn out on the barren plains. And it wasn't one a day. It was dozens in several hours. And they were destroying houses including brick houses at a higher rate than mobile homes. In other words, you don't have the slightest idea about what you're talking about so go f*** yourself, broad.
@@kenperk9854 Shut the fuck up talking to her like that, you piece of shit! Her point is an extremely valid one.
2 RAW 4 TV I mean... not saying i disagree or anything but i think when the reply is 4 years old, it sort of it silly to tell someone to shut up
@@thekushkunt True, but even if it's a dead account or a dead person I'm still going to tell them off.
@@kenperk9854 you really sound stupid. You didnt gave to come for her like that you POS
Got actually emotional when he started telling people that they were going to get them through this and they were going to make it through. Gosh what on earth could be going through the meteorologists minds during those moments.
So many comments about the music being bad or stupid, I actually like it. Fits in with what happened that day. Thanks for this! :)
I agree with you
What song is it
it does fit but it can sometimes be distracting lol
holdendirtdevel time by Hans zimmer
Stupid music
Here's a story.
On April 27, 2011 (the day in the video) my parents were driving home from a doctor's appointment. There were stormy clouds and they went east because of a confirmed tornado. The tornado broke in two and one part came east. They stopped at a gas station and got a map because there was no GPS. 20 minutes later that gas station was obliterated. The people inside the gas station stayed in the freezer and survived. They drove for an hour or so before returning to their home (also my home). There were tons of tornadoes this day and me and my parents were lucky to survive. Rest In Peace for the people who died this day.
Wow glad they all made it out alive! Godspeed!
9:10 Crossing I-359
9:15-9:55 Wood Manor/ downtown
10:05 McFarland & 15th/ University Mall
10:10 Alberta city
10:20 Peterson area
Damn that was a fast sucker.
Yes very! All cells that day was I believe was going above 45-50mph
Prater worked with Spann at 33/40 for a few years. He learned well. Congrats Mark!!
You can definitely tell it. Jason Simpson is another one that learned a lot from Spann. I'd be proud to have either one of them here in my area.
@@jtb1990419 so true. Spann is one of the best ever, and he has turned Prater into one too.
That meteorologist was amazing! Him and his team were really on top of what was going on. They probably saved a lot of lives that day.
The weatherman is a pro
He has since been fired.
Alex Patt I don’t think you know about James Spann
@@yorick22 there's hardly any mets that compare to Spann. Prater is pretty good, though. Not surprising, as he worked with Spann at 33/40.
I remember this day so well...
Abbie Crawford me too
Abbie Crawford I do too. It's something I'll never forget.
Same here. We didn't get any damage...physically. Mentally, however...
Me too. All you heard were sirens going off for hours and hours that day.
I'm the weather nerd's weather nerd. If it is storm related, I've been involved with it since my late teens...In my late 50's now. All that for this. Alabama's meteorologists and the National Storm Prediction center were all over this tornado outbreak DAYS before it happened. They saw it coming together bit by bit and by the 26th, Mark, Rich, James Spann and Jason Simpson (can't forget him...he was brilliant too) were not only warning people 24 hours ahead of the outbreak but knew exactly what to say..."Treat every circulation like it is on the ground." The huge gut punch was the fact most of the state was without power from the morning storms. It is the only explanation for how many people died with these guys calling storm paths an hour before impact. All I can add is if you live in Alabama or Oklahoma, provided you actually listen to advice given, you have meteorologists that can read a supercell like a newspaper. Brilliant eggs...
"Your gonna be alright, we will get you through this" seconds later "wow! this is a massive violant tornado.. my gosh as violent as it gets" lol kudos for trying to reassure the people while still being real
I feel for everyone that has to go through these terrible tragedies. I went through tornadoes in the outbreak of 1974 but wasn't hit directly. Prayers go out to the victims and survivors of these storms. God bless everyone that has been through these tornadoes.
Meteorology and smart phones have absolutely revolutionized situational awareness since April 1974.
You know what I always found terrifying about this? You're watching 60+ get killed live whether you knew it or not.
I'm from athens Alabama and i lived through this. Me and my family almost died that day but thanks to my grandma's house we survived. I still have ptsd whenever weather gets bad
I will never forget that day and the countless of lives lost
And the scar it left on the Tennessee valley
Oh man I feel for you. This tornado is one I just happened to witness & this one in particular does haunt me. I can only imagine how badly it haunts you my friend. Praying for you.
10 yrs ago today. My thoughts and prayers are with all who lost loved ones.
I live in Montgomery Alabama and this day was scary a f for me. I was in the 7th grade at the time and we had checked out of school early because of those morning storms. We I got home from checking out I saw the live feed of the Tuscaloosa tornado on WSFA. I was almost shitless because I thought it would hit every major city in alabama. Luckily Montgomery and southward did not get any impacts. However the suburbs of Elmore county got an EF4. Scary. Ever since that day we have not gotten that many tornadoes though. By that I mean below average. However I can't complain because I would never wanna see another April 27th again.
That same system went into Tn and SW Va later the next day. 8 people were killed in our area of Greene/Washington Co. in Tn. We watch the weather and the skies seriously now in the Spring and Fall since 2011.
timothy myers the biggest part of damage from the EF3 tornado was in the Camp Creek community near the Cherokee National Forest. A lot of folks live in that rural area and a monument has been placed there to remember the 8 folks that were killed
timothy myers there's a few clips on You Tube showing the damage.
>almost scared shirtless
I was looking for the one that hit our area in E Tn but didn't see it. It happened about 11pm and I don't think anyone saw it but it sure tore up some homes that night. I live in town just NW of the affected area and the supercell was headed my way. All I saw was lightning above the clouds and an eery quite.
I was driving through Cordova when that tornado hit. It was truly massive.
Yeah, that music makes you choke up.......I live in Atlanta and I was watching this on CNN....Such an awful day
cojack same
5 years later! 4/27/2016
Omg yes wow!!!
9 years later! 4/27/20
ItsJustWolfy Still get chills thinking about it.
About to come up on 13 years next month. Was 12 years old at the time and the tornado was a mile and a half away from my childhood home. You could feel it and it sounded like a freight train. I remember seeing the faces of my mom and dad and neighbors (we were in neighbors basement at the time) when they saw on tv the tornado. It took weeks to get power lines, debris, trees, etc. cleaned up. God bless the families that lost their homes or lost loved ones. Very thankful to had gotten through such a scary time
April'7th 2024
Almost 13 year's later . I will never Forget April ' 2011 even in Atlanta' Georgia ..
Mark and James Spann is one of the best weatherman’s ever!
Well Mark worked with James Spann in 1998 at ABC 33/40 so he learned from the GOAT
17:50 neighborhood completely devastated by F4 tornado
*boy happily playing his DS*
Same
My God I remember this day like yesterday. I lived about 35 miles east of downtown Birmingham. My mom woke me and my brother up around 7:30 that morning. We didn’t know school was cancelled because my mom used to wake us up at that age. Anyway I looked outside my window, it was COMPLETELY DARK! I was terrified thinking I was about to die. The winds were so strong and raining super hard. We went to her bedroom and laid in her bed, sirens were going off. My neighbor came over because her house didn’t have protection as us. It was so scary, I am getting chills thinking about it. Y’all do not understand the fear we had that day. Tornadoes EVERYWHERE! Deaths all over the state. No school for an week, it was crazy. We had the morning storms and then the afternoon storms. It was so insane. God I wouldn’t bring this on my enemies.
17:50 *Home is completely destroyed by a massive tornado*
“One sec, I gotta beat Bowser.”
You gotta hand it to those meteorologist. They are simply amazing people and deserve so much more credit! True heros.
7:40 that's deep breath and urgent typing. Really drives home more how serious that day was
When he said something along the lines of “ I tell ya what, any tornado we mention today, consider it on the ground”, that caught me off guard. Usually they wait to confirm things, but man, you know it’s bad when they say that. I thought the guy was awesome.
Normally, you *should not* make a statement like that in broadcasting. That’s seen as alarmist and irresponsible.
However, with the benefit of hindsight, I would argue this declaration saved some lives because you can’t show every tornado on camera, and this was a high risk scenario that absolutely ended up playing out as expected… with 200k+ people who had lost commercial electricity. It had to be treated as a high level hazard.
@@PublicAtLarge This. Hundreds of LIVES in Alabama were Saved alone because of that Statement. They weren't PLAYING any games. Everyone knew this was SERIOUS.
I think obviously he means that nobody should take this for granted, or lightly and that everyone should stay inside.
@@Graphics_Card Hundreds of LIVES in Alabama were Saved alone because of that Statement. They weren't PLAYING any games. Everyone knew this was SERIOUS.
@@Tornado1994 correct
This is the most scariest thing ever. Be safe everyone! 😢 praying for the safety.
+Noy2Wavy people still say "shawty"?
Lmfao
+Noy2Wavy okay lol.....😝😜
+Shreya Choudhury Especially scary is the fact that, anyone in the direct path of the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornado was basically NOT going to survive unless they could shelter either underground or in tornado safe rooms! This is because, in an EF4-EF5 tornado, well-built frame houses get LEVELED! This means that people who sheltered in interior rooms from this thing probably didn't survive. You see, a person CAN survive some 99 percent of tornadoes just by sheltering in his or her house's interior room on the lowest floor. But this is only because 99 percent of all tornadoes are in the range of EF0-EF3. It's that 1 percent of tornadoes that are violent (EF4-EF5) that are NOT survivable unless you're either underground or are in a Safe Room.
Absolutely phenomenal job by these meteorologists broadcasting this. And the chasers!
I chased this tornado that day & it will always haunt me. This was an EF5 in my eyes.
What people outside of Alabama didn't know was the afternoon setup was preceded by a line of powerful storms with embedded EF-2 and 3 tornadoes that hit the entire region at dawn. We were without power after they came through and a small tornado destroyed our back yard and tore a line through the back of our neighborhood knocking down trees and then destroying several miles of residential neighborhoods south of I459. That knocked out power everywhere in this area including the sirens. So if that happened to us I imagine it happened to the areas that were affected by the tornadoes.
Patrick Dezenzio yeah most do know . That’s the reason all the fatalities, no real warning
I survived the hackleburg EF5. they didn't realize hackleburg was leveled at first until after the fact
Duke Of_Cleveland_East there’s a video interview posted by the National Weather Service in Huntsville. One of the warning meteorologists mentioned seeing a debris ball just after Hackleburg was hit. She knew that Hackleburg had just been leveled.
"The Medusa Funnel" Most "evil-looking" tornado in history.
Great description!
Apt, considering that people who looked at it were probably practically frozen in terror.
I have been a storm spotter and chaser since 2003 and I have to say the tornado in Tuscaloosa was scary looking but the tornado in El Reno Oklahoma may 31 2013 was the worst and the biggest on record so far and it takes a lot to scare me but that day I was scared and scared for everyone in it's path
I see pure evil in this as well. Horrific.
I've been in a tornado before at 5 years old, an apartment with no basement. Heavy hail, strong winds and rain, I've been scarred ever since. But this, this was terrible. My best friend has been through that tornado, and she was traumatized for a long time. She's getting better but it still haunts her.
I live is tusaloosa when that happened scariest day of my life
you ok
+robin seals you realize this isn't recent, right?
+robin seals yea we lived a little farther away from the tornado but got the hail I saw it
@@katiecookie7796 Good thing you are alive and well. I have only seen one tornado in my lifetime and it was in Houston back in 1992. We had our outbreak during November 21, 1992.
Dave Freeman’s coverage of the Greensburg tornado is a lot more professional and not so sensational and end of the world. That’s why he won an Emmy.
This is an outbreak that could've very well taken out that office,even with their reinforced structure. God Bless the meterologists and spotters,and God rest the dead.
I’m from Fairborn (a suburb of Dayton) we recently just missed an ef4 it was first heading right towards us, then right as it almost entered Fairborn it started going more south it was one of the scariest nights, although it didn’t hit Fairborn there was insulation and debris EVERYWHERE it was insane
I'm a witness of this. Was in the Dayton tornado.... 😔
God bless all of you that have died or family members
Nothing fake about this, I was there! This was very REAL! Alabama will never forget.!
2023... still haven't forgotten.
I suspect WIAT itself posted this footage.
Hopefully, the full unedited live broadcast (I suspect WIAT was on the air for hours on end) will be posted.
April 27th, 2011 was the Finest Hour in the history of Central Alabama television. The efforts of the local TV stations may have saved thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, of lives.
Tens of thousands.
Back in 1999, KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City did a video cassette of their coverage of the Moore F-5. Are there any plans to make one of those that extend through the tornado striking Birmingham?
The music really makes this. Well that and the scary AF F5 tearing thru T-Town.
Thank you for the coverage of the Cordova/Sumiton tornado especially showing that neighborhood on that hill in sumiton. 9 people died there and 4 people died in Cordova. It moved on to sipsey but im not sure if anybody died there.
17:07 the weather reporter almost loses it,I don't blame him,I don't think I would be able to hold my emotions either
James spann almost lost his composure as well when he asked someone about the students at the university of Alabama. I wouldn't expect anything less on that day tbh
How does 2011 look so old I know it’s been 12 years
I know. Everything has advanced so much since then but this is one particular tornado that haunts me to this day. I chased this EF4 that day years ago.
I still remember this day vividly; debris fell from the sky at a terrifying and intense rate.
1:40 for all of us in Mississippi, atleast in amory the tornado sirens were constantly going off all day long, it was a really long day, didnt help that we lost power aswell.
Man, it amazes me the human mind, why we have these random urges to relive past events even if we dont remember them fondly.
Even though it happened over a year ago, it's still nail-biting and nerve-wracking to watch news coverage.
8:50 what's with the Inception soundtrack in the background? Who thought that would be a good idea?
nice background music...goes great with the sever weather that was happening at the time anyway
Why would you play background music.? Doesn't help ease the fear.
i remember this! i was in third grade at the time. our school system barely let us out of school, and we only got out an two hours before it got bad. it was so scary
i couldn't get into a safe shelter, either. I was in a mobile home, unable to move because we didn't have a car or anything. i was with my dad and two of my sisters while my mom was at work and my sister and grandmother were stuck in a winn dixie
Great news team down there! Great job!! You most like save thousands of lives!
Does anyone recall how many tornadoes touched down that day? I seem to remember the number being over 100 for Alabama alone. And about every 10 years is right. Huntsville's been hit by multiple tornadoes in my years (45), but the ones I remember hearing the most about were EF5's in 1973 (or 74), 1989, and 2011
205 tornadoes
Mike Benefield Wow. I thought it was around 140! I didn't know it broke the 200 mark.
Like the bit about the care of the students
This is why i still hate weather to this day. I lived through this tornado and it gives me terrible memories every time i think back on it. My family and i were so lucky, we were in a church basement as it hit. I hope the families of the people who didnt make it are recovering safely.
Hard to believe this was 3 yrs ago. I thank God it passed us over. Pray for those who are still affected by the tornado.
We went through this outbreak...we found debris from tuscaloosa here in Tennessee in our back yards...this was probably the scariest day of my life thus far.
Simplyliving Livingsimply
Where in Tennessee do you live and what kind of debris did you find? How do you know it was from Tuscaloosa in particular?
15:52 gets me every time
So sad 😭
You can hear Prater getting choked up as well. Sobering and saddening to say the least.
Things like this are so incredibly terrifying. It's hard to look at something like a tornado that size, understand just how dangerous it can be, and not end up crying in fear. This happened over a decade ago and just watching this footage for the first time has me deeply shaken. The technology for tracking, predicting, and accounting for stuff like this has improved a lot, but, like, I didn't realize a tornado can just rip the asphalt off the ground and fling it. Obviously, it can pick up a house with a weak foundation, but the idea of it picking up a road feels just so impossible to me the fact that WIND can do it feels like some kind of divine retribution. Absolutely awe-inspiring in that profoundly terrifying way.
He is trying to reassure viewers. I wouldn't be able to talk seeing something like that go through my city.
I can't believe I actually live through that and it was on my b-day it was unbelievable.
I will never forget this devastating day and pray to God it that it never happens again! May God have mercy on the souls that were lost and everyone who was affected.
You know I live in Cordova. I have watched these videos for years. YEARS. I've seen every April tornado coverage of Alabama. Have watched everything and yall are the ONLY CHANNEL that has shown footage or even talked about Cordova. 2 children died here and I blame it on the extremely late to no warnings for this area here. I bet yall saved more life's than you know being the only channel to show this area. And no one ever talks about how we were hit early that morning and were literally with no power until minutes before the big event happen. We had so many damages buildings and home before this ever happened.
mark prater and james spann are the heroes of 4/27/2011
There was a bigger one in Oklahoma, just West of the main part of Oklahoma City, wasn't there? Please correct me.
El Reno you mean?
Moore Oklahoma
Abbie Crawford Moore Oklahoma
the one on the May 20th 2013? Or the 31st?
There were stronger ones that day too.
I was in harvest when this happened, funnel cloud bout to touch down flew over my house and knocked down 3 trees, one onto my house
Good think u weren't home!!!
Stewart Kennedy glad you're ok mate
This year has featured some pretty insane weather so far! I’ve been watching videos saying that this year could be a historic year in terms of severe weather and possibly similar to the outbreaks of 2011!
Have you heard about Sunday? Possibly large and long tracking tornadoes around the area where April 27ths storms became infamous.
Tracy Williams yes I have! I’ve been keeping an eye on it for days now! It should be pretty bad!
I've watched this so many times. I love chasing and this day made me go from spotting to chasing. If it wasn't for these guys, there would have been a lot more casualties.
was the music really necessary? as if this wasn't dramatic enough
9:39
CameraMan: Look at that thing, it's huge!
Cousin: not as huge as my dic-
Cousins mother: KENDRICK!
Cousin: sry mom
Lol
HAHAHAHA, NOT FUNNY at all
Smosh K hjdisort
Dude this is serious, so many people died there, what a jerk to say something like that.
Was WIAT42 playing background music during their live broadcast?
No.
vanhouten64 The music is from the Inception movie soundtrack. The user added the music to the news. It's cool music and interesting reporting but together it just sounds...like I'm watching a movie. It's too cinematic and dramatic.
Not only was it scary there in Alabama but it was awful they day before in Texas which is where I live trust me I was in the path of one of those storms
In Alabama I had one 1 mile from my house
+Dillion M (RockDMac88) idc if hurricanes tornadoes earthquakes ill never leaving alabama
+ann mann I might not have been to Alabama...but I'm praying you have a basement... Btw you can't really get hurricanes it's the same thing with me
+Rock Mac (RockDMac88) Dang...I hope you are ok
RainbowDiamond25 MC The same happened for us in the Wichita area in 2013, we had a huge storm, tornado emergency, one of the news stations had to move in their basements. Next day, the infamous Moore EF5 tornado that killed dozens.
Great job! I cannot get enough of watching these! Love it!
Pretty much rko tornadoes outta no where
Remember this like it was yesterday.. remember the EF5 that came through East Limestone County barely missed my grandmas house
10:20 Quite a memorable quote
Do they normally get storms this big????
no.
@@jamessummers5946 oh
Yes and no. This kind of day is exceptionally rare for ANYWHERE, but if it is going to happen, This is one of the main areas of the country where it would statistically happen. All three "super outbreaks" in this nation's history have produced violent tornadoes in Alabama. Alabama is the heart of "Dixie Alley" and has just as many F5/EF5 tornadoes on record since 1950 (when reliable tornado records began) as the state of Oklahoma.
Kalee Dionne is now working in Kansas City.
The video said it was on the 26th and the title says it was on the 27th, is this a mistake or something?
The April 26th label was only pertaining to the day-before newscast at the beginning of the video. The video highlights their coverage before, during, and after the event.
He said 26 bc he was showing past tense before the day of the tornadoes
I have a bad feeling that even the April 27, 2011 tornado Super Outbreak doesn't HOLD A CANDLE to just how bad a tornado outbreak can get in the Southern Plains (which include the states of Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas)! I worry that one of these days, the Southern Plains will get a tornado Super Outbreak that will blow even the April 27, 2011 Super Outbreak out of the water! I'm afraid that there is at least the remote possibility that, during mid-late May, Tulsa, Oklahoma might someday experience an air temperature of 95 degrees F. and an UNBELIEVABLY high dew point of 88 degrees F. This would cause a Heat Index of 134 degrees F.! It would also mean that, if there's high wind shear in place, then the air over Tulsa would be EXPLOSIVELY unstable! Here's one way that such a temperature and dew point configuration might happen: an EXTREMELY powerful low-level jet (which is a jet stream that's at the 850-millibar height) with winds of over 100 knots blowing in the extremely warm and extremely moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, PLUS practically clear skies from mid-morning through late afternoon (allowing for maximum daytime heating... and hence: maximum instability). If Tulsa and the rest of the Warm Sector have temperatures in the 90's and dew points in the 80's, and if there were also EXTREME wind shear (with such ridiculously high SRH*'s as 800 m2/s2 or even higher), then this would inevitably touch off the most EXTREME tornado outbreak in recorded history! In just one day, this kind of setup might produce over 1,000 tornadoes in the Southern Plains; and 100 percent of all the supercells that form that day would go on to spawn at least 1 tornado. Usually, even in tornado outbreaks, most supercells DON'T form tornadoes. Well, during the Super Outbreak of April 27, 2011, 90 percent of the supercells that formed spawned tornadoes! Anyways, here's my estimation of what the very worst-case scenario tornado outbreak in the Southern Plains might be like:
Total Tornadoes: 1,225
EF0: 289
EF1: 416
EF2: 210
EF3: 150
EF4: 100
EF5: 60
Lives Lost: At least 600
Number of Violent Tornadoes (EF4-EF5): 160
Cities Destroyed by Tornadoes: Wichita Falls, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Springfield, Missouri (not part of the Southern Plains, but several tornadoes from there could easily track from the Southern Plains through that city); Little Rock, Arkansas; Dallas, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas
* SRH: Storm Relative Helicity. The higher this number is, the higher the wind shear. Tornadoes just *LOVE* wind shear!
the ones in the plains have nothing to stop them, so yeah yall's are bad
same...and another thing is that four years later after this on the same day as the super Tuesday tornado outbreak in central Arkansas a powerful tornado just happens to form and stay on the ground for a long time, weird
It obviously can, seeing as how it is the worst tornado outbreak in history
Ehh, I see where you're coming from. I highly doubt, however, an outbreak could beat this regardless of location. Tornado outbreaks and deadly tornadoes are not something I brag about, nor ever would I. It's an undisputed fact that the south-east is extremely conducive for tornadoes, particularly deadly ones. It's unfortunate I have to say it, because it's never anything to be proud of.
Ok so u know about the ingredients of tornadic supercells, greats job. .....Doomsday living in moms basement idiot .
I've been thru 3 tornadoes in Birmingham and it NEVER gets easier (77,98,2011). To me the one in 98 was just as bad as 2011. I live in Pratt city ( suburb of Bham). We always get hit HARD!
I feel ya, i live in forestdale and was watching the tornado cross the highway, i was close to jet pep/milos on top of hill on 78, will never forget how it look and the sound..i was blessed that it missed my house by half a mile!
I don't ever want to see another EF5 come thru Bham. You never get over it. Especially when your neighborhood is the one that is destroyed. I still get the creeps when the clouds get dark.... Like today! *sigh*
Sad music in an already sad video is a recipe for tears. :...(
I agree! 😢
This is amazing. 2011 in April was horrible for tornados. I saw my first major tornado that year here in NC with an EF3. I grew up in tornado alley and I never saw or live through one like I did in 2011. I never want to see it again. Moving here you expected possibly seeing hurricanes, but not major tornados.
Hate the fact that people put music in these videos
just seeing the how calm and composed these people are really help me when theres large thunderstorms near my house. even though i live in the maryland dc area and there are very few tornadoes, i still fear tornadoes quite a bit.