Public Information Statement - April 19, 2009

Public Information Statement
Sunday, April 19, 2009

...ELEVEN TORNADOES CONFIRMED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...

ON APRIL 19TH, SEVERAL BANDS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND LASTED INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED SEVERAL TORNADOES, LARGE HAIL, AND LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL. SOME STORMS EXHIBITED PERSISTENT ROTATION AND WERE
LIKELY SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS DEVELOPED AHEAD OF A
STRONG COLD FRONT THAT PUSHED EASTWARD INTO GEORGIA AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THREE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAMS FANNED OUT ACROSS
CENTRAL ALABAMA ON MONDAY AND CONDUCTED DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS IN MANY
COUNTIES.  THE STORM SURVEY TEAMS FOUND 11 TORNADO TRACKS IN 8
DIFFERENT COUNTIES. THERE WERE (5) EF-0 TORNADOES, (4) EF-1
TORNADOES, AND (2) EF-2 TORNADOES. THE COUNTIES THAT WERE AFFECTED
INCLUDED MONTGOMERY, BULLOCK, ST. CLAIR, PERRY, RUSSELL, BLOUNT,
HALE, AND SHELBY. ADDITIONAL TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPED
IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AREA OF NORTH ALABAMA AND IN WESTERN
GEORGIA.

A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. IF YOU WITNESSED HAIL OR FLOODING OR
ARE AWARE OF ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES...PLEASE
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE...OR CALL THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM REPORTING HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758.

HERE ARE THE TORNADOES CONFIRMED TO DATE...

TORNADO 1: ...WHITSITT TORNADO...(HALE COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6261/-87.5949
EVENT END LOCATION:   32.6447/-87.5377
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.55 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 25 YARDS
START TIME: 552 PM CDT
END TIME: 600 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 223 PM
TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 539 PM TO 630 PM
CDT.

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST TO THE WEST OF STATE HIGHWAY 25 NEAR
WHITSITT. THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST NORTHEAST OVER COUNTY ROAD 47
AND LIFTED JUST EAST OF STATE HIGHWAY 61. 40 TO 50 SOFTWOOD TREES
WERE SNAPPED OFF ALONG THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH. AN OUTBUILDING AND A
BARN ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE.

TORNADO 2: ...BIG PRAIRIE CREEK TORNADO...(PERRY COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 90 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6443/-87.4958
EVENT END LOCATION:   32.6492/-87.4278
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.77 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS
START TIME: 604 PM CDT
END TIME: 615 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 223 PM
TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 539 PM TO 630 PM
CDT. ANOTHER TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 612 PM TO 715 PM CDT.

DAMAGE WAS PRIMARILY TO SOFTWOOD TREES. BETWEEN 50 AND 100 AND
UPROOTED.  ONE HOME SUSTAINED SHINGLE DAMAGE.

TORNADO 3: ...ALABASTER-PELHAM TORNADO...(SHELBY COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 80 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.2566/-86.8123
EVENT END LOCATION:   33.2775/-86.7891
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 2.10 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 800 YARDS
START TIME: 616 PM CDT
END TIME: 620 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 247 PM
TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 617 PM TO 700 PM
CDT.

SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. A
FEW OF THE TREES LANDED ON HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES. MINOR TO MODERATE
DAMAGE OCCURRED AT A FEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

TORNADO 4: ...MARION TORNADO...(PERRY COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 90-100 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6740/-87.3138
EVENT END LOCATION:   32.6767/-87.2931
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 1.25 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS
START TIME: 628 PM CDT
END TIME: 631 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 223 PM
TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 539 PM TO 630 PM
CDT. ANOTHER TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 612 PM TO 715 PM CDT.

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF COUNTY ROAD 7 NORTH OF THE SPLIT
WITH COUNTY ROAD 24. THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST NORTHEAST AND CROSSED
OVER COUNTY ROAD 5. THE TORNADO LIFTED SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 16.
AROUND 100 TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH.
ONE HOME SUSTAINED MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE AND FACEA DAMAGE.

TORNADO 5: ...ALABASTER TORNADO...(SHELBY COUNTY)
EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 70 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.2035/-86.8627
EVENT END LOCATION:   33.2315/-86.8165
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.30 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS
START TIME: 653 PM CDT
END TIME: 658 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 247 PM
TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 624 PM TO 715 PM
CDT COVERING THE TORNADO PATH.

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS AND THE NUMBER OF
PHOTOGRAPHS SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, ANOTHER
TORNADO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN ALABASTER. THE TORNADO WAS WEAK AND
POORLY ORGANIZED, RATING ONLY AN EF-0 WITH WINDS ESTIMATED BETWEEN
60 AND 65 MPH. THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN IN THE MAYLENE AREA,
WITH A FEW TREES TOPPED OUT IN THE AREA. THE TORNADO TRACKED
NORTHEASTWARD WITH A VERY DISTINCT ROTATING WALL CLOUD, WITH AN
EYEWITNESS REPORTING THAT IT TORE A FEW SHINGLES OFF A HOME JUST
SOUTHEAST OF THOMPSON HIGH SCHOOL. FROM THERE, THE TORNADO CONTINUED
ACROSS HIGHWAY 119 NEAR THOMPSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, WITH A
SHERIFF`S DEPUTY REPORTING MULTIPLE FUNNELS ON OR NEAR THE GROUND AS
IT CROSSED THE HIGHER TERRAIN. A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE
SPOTTED THE TORNADO AS IT CROSSED OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN JUST TO
THE WEST NORTHWEST OF THE ALABASTER PROMENADE AND WATCHED IT LIFT
OFF THE GROUND.

TORNADO 6: ...GIBSON TORNADO...(MONTGOMERY COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 70-80 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.0881/-86.1864
EVENT END LOCATION:   32.0883/-86.1838
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.15 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 150 YARDS
START TIME: 810 PM CDT
END TIME: 810 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 640 PM
TO 900 PM CDT.

EIGHT TO TEN TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED.  METAL ROOFING BLOWN OFF OF
A BARN AND MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGED SUSTAINED TO A HOME.

TORNADO 7: ...TROY HIGHWAY TORNADO...(MONTGOMERY COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.1136/-86.0693
EVENT END LOCATION:   32.1147/-86.0659
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.20 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS
START TIME: 820 PM CDT
END TIME: 820 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 640 PM
TO 900 PM CDT.

A TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF US HIGHWAY 231 ACROSS
FROM OLD BARNES ROAD. THREE HORSE TRAILERS WERE TOSSED BETWEEN 50
AND 100 FEET. ONE TRAILER WAS DESTROYED. ONE TRAILER WAS REPORTED
TO WEIGH 10,000 POUNDS AND WAS BLOWN 50 FEET.

TORNADO 8: ...SHOPTON TORNADO...(BULLOCK COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.1617/-85.9345
EVENT END LOCATION:   32.1621/-85.9335
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.10 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS
START TIME: 836 PM CDT
END TIME: 836 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 640 PM
TO 900 PM CDT.

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF SHOPTON. NUMEROUS TREES WERE
SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE SHORT PATH.


TORNADO 9: ...HIGHLAND LAKE TORNADO...(BLOUNT/ST CLAIR COUNTIES)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 122 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.8605/-86.4420
EVENT END LOCATION:   33.8977/-86.3376
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 6.53 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 300 YARDS
START TIME: 859 PM CDT
END TIME: 910 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 522 PM
TO 900 PM CDT.

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 27 AND
JONES CHAPEL ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHEASTWARD AND CROSSED
LAKE ROAD, COUNTY ROAD 29, PUTNAM ROAD, HICKS ROAD AND FINALLY
LIFTED JUST TO THE WEST OF COUNTY ROAD 24. EIGHTEEN STRUCTURES
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED ALONG THE PATH. FOUR STRUCTURES COMPLETELY
DESTROYED. SEVEN CHICKEN HOUSES DESTROYED DISPLACING 95,000 CHICKENS.

TORNADO 10: ...ASHVILLE TORNADO...(ST CLAIR COUNTY)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.8643/-86.2199
EVENT END LOCATION:   33.8805/-86.1728
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 2.92 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 75 YARDS
START TIME: 921 PM CDT
END TIME: 927 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 176 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 845 PM
TO 100 AM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 901 PM TO 930 PM
CDT.

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF COUNTY ROAD 25 ON JOSHUA DRIVE.
THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST NORTHEAST PARALLELING COUNTY ROAD 25
BEFORE LIFTING JUST TO THE WEST OF MOPAR DRIVE. AT LEAST 50 TREES
WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH.

TORNADO 11: ...PHENIX CITY-COLUMBUS TORNADO...(RUSSELL & MUSCOGEE
COUNTIES)

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 115 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.4594/-85.0231
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.4745/-84.9564
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 4 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 250 YARDS
START TIME: 1033 PM CDT
END TIME: 1042 PM CDT
WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 176 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 845 PM
TO 100 AM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 951 PM TO 1045
PM CDT.

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 22ND AVENUE AND 17TH
STREET IN PHENIX CITY. THE TORNADO TRAVELED THROUGH THE SOUTH END OF
PHENIX CITY BEFORE IT CROSSED THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND WENT INTO
GEORGIA. THE TORNADO PRODUCED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN COLUMBUS GEORGIA
BEFORE IT LIFTED. FIVE BUSINESSES SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. SEVEN
HOMES SUFFERED MINOR TO MAJOR DAMAGE MOSTLY TO ROOFS. ONE HUNDRED TO
TWO HUNDRED TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH.

$$

75/LINHARES