For some people there are things that will change their lives forever and it does not matter how big or how small it is. That thing for me happened 12 years ago on April 8th 1998 when an F5 tornado ( the worst tornado in Alabama since 1977)tore through Jefferson County Alabama. I was an EMT and a volunteer firefighter back then and that night I saw more death and destruction than I have ever seen. Shortly before 8pm that night a tornado touched down in Western Jefferson County Alabama not really knowing the magnitude until a little later when my phone started ringing. I was being mobilized to go to the Oak Grove/Concord area because the destruction was extensive people missing, deaths, and hundreds injured. The Fire Stations where destroyed and roads were blocked as well as no power. When I arrived it made my stomach turn seeing all the people wandering around not knowing really where their loved ones are. I have seen a lot of people die in my lifetime but this scene is now burnt into my memory. Every time I smell pine it nearly makes me sick because the smell of all the broken pine trees was over whelming. The NWS issued the Tornado Warning for Jefferson County at 7:45pm and the tornado touched down at 7:52pm and by the time it was over 34 people would lose their lives, 256 injured, 1,117 homes completely destroyed, 988 other home damaged. I became a Skywarn Spotter later that year and began my storm chasing career. Unlike the Great Plains you cannot see a tornado miles away due to the hilly terrain. So by becoming a Storm Spotter it is my hope that when tornadoes form and start doing damage I can relay any information I have to the NWS in hopes to save lives.
All photos from the NWS in Birmingham.
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