the diary of my fairytale: Tale of a Tornado

On April 11, 2013, a small town about 15 minutes away from mine was demolished by a tornado that traveled through 3 counties, damaging homes, businesses, taking the lives of a few people, injuring some, and impacting many forever. The rain-wrapped tornado, being 3/4 of a mile wide, touched down around 12:30pm, bringing 145MPH winds, hail, and lots of rain.
I had just made it home from class. Once I arrived home, my Dad (who we like to refer to as "Meteorologist Bob" when bad weather is present) already had the weather on, scanning his iPad radar, and listening to the weather radio. We didn't expect the storms to be that extensive, but he's always prepared regardless. I went and got TK out, and I brought him over to our house to wait on Matt who was traveling back from an appointment. I sat on the floor and joined Daddy as he watched the weather.

I have a love/hate relationship with bad weather. I love it because it gives me an adrenaline rush and reminds me of how BIG Our God is, but I hate it because of the repercussions, how it tears homes and towns apart and scars many people for life.

However, I am always very aware of the weather. My family {my dad, and now my brother} are very cautious of it as well. I stay up to date, checking my phone, twitter, facebook updates, and watching the radar.

Soon after the weather was aired on TV, the weatherman came back on and began to speak of a tornado being near Shuqualak. Before we knew it, they were confirming a tornado on the ground, and soon enough we were all in somewhat of a panic.

We have land in Shuqualak, and it's not just "any" land. My Dad grew up there. His entire childhood was made in Shuqualak. He lived there, he grew up there, and his family surrounded him there. So, when Shuqualak is mentioned, although WE don't live there, we panic as if we do.

Oustide, it began to hail.

The wind picked up.

The rain beat down on the ground.

The hail stopped,

and it started again.

Inside, the TV went out.

The power went out.

We are all trying to call Matt.

{TK is sound asleep.}

Dad's standing by the window, watching it.

& before we knew it, the hail was gone.

The rain slowed but not by much.

And little did we know at the time, the tornado missed our little hometown by just a few miles - again.

The same thing happened just a few years ago when a tornado struck through Tuscaloosa, and it originated near our house. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Shuqualak, Prairie Point, and Pumpkin Creek. Shuqualak (pronounced /sugar-lock/), simply doesn't look the same and probably never will. I can say one thing - it may have destroyed this community, but it only built the people's hearts that live there together.

The Lord watched over so many people on Thursday. I was able to talk with the lady who's yard is pictured above. Before the storm, large pine trees were sprinkled neatly across her yard, and because of the tornado, many of them were gone. She told me that she and her husband sat in their hallway, and she asked God to provide a hedge of protection around them, and that's exactly what He did. Many trees were down, her porch destroyed, and a glass window was busted out of her home, but she and her husband were fine.

While this tornado destroyed many homes, it also spared many lives, and thankfully homes can be replaced.

Below are many photos of the damage, and at the bottom there is a video that I have attached of the tornado. A guy that Matt graduated with filmed it from the prairie as it was traveling towards Pickens Co, AL.

What was so empowering to me was how our little community came together, as they always do, after Thursday's tornado. There have been people from our county and the surrounding counties who have joined together to help one another out. I can brag on my Dad and brother for a minute and say that they were among some of the first ones who responded with their chainsaws, water bottles, and rain coats in tow. I'm always proud of the work they do, and it makes me even prouder to be from a place where most everyone is the same way.