This is slightly lower than what was reported at first yesterday, which was 13 across the state. A glimmer of hope came later in the day when the toll was revised sharply downward, with the earlier preliminary numbers being said to have been in error due to miscommunication at the site. Sadly, the number at the school now appears to have been accurate, and it could turn out that the statewide number will go up again as searches continue for people unaccounted for. (Photos of the storm damage can be seen here.)
As I mentioned in a comment last night, our prayers for those who have lost family members, both here in Alabama and across the Southeast.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 08:49 AMThere might come along a weather phenomenon that could scare me more than tornados, but I can't imagine what it would be. God bless them.
Poor people must never have heard a freight train -- not mentioned once in the article.
Posted by: Janis Gore at March 2, 2007 10:04 AMPrayers of comfort go out to the families hit by the tornadoes yesterday. We expect our schools and hospitals to be safe places, but it's difficult to build a tornado-proof structure. I can't imagine how a hospital could cope, especially one with big windows for most rooms.
It's times like this when you tend to hug your family a little tighter afterwards.
Posted by: Marc V at March 2, 2007 10:10 AMI loved the Midwest, but I hated being at the top of tornado alley. I'll take blizzards and hurricanes over tornadoes. They are just so unpredictable.
Posted by: Sarah G. at March 2, 2007 10:15 AMJanis, I did hear about an interview with one of the students who had taken shelter in the choir room at the school and she mentioned the freight train sound.
Marc, you're right, it is hard to do, especially if you've got a big open-span building like the gym. There's not much you can do except make sure there are good sturdy places like corridors to shelter in. And even though people tend to think houses are a lot safer than a trailer, if you have a normal framed house and it gets a direct hit by an F4 or F5, it's going to get destroyed, too. Again, best to have a storm shelter or a place in the house that's strong.
And yep, Sarah, tornadoes are about the most frightening thing in the weather, along with lightning.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 2, 2007 10:33 AM