Today is the second anniversary of one of the worst tornado outbreaks in recorded history. In the space of a few horrible minutes here, there, and yonder, large swaths of my favorite state were destroyed, and hundreds of her citizens perished.
Superficially, things look back to normal today. There’s a tree line near where Browns Ferry Rd. crosses I-65 that’s not going to look right for the rest of my life. But for the most part, if you want to see tornado damage in northern Alabama two years later, you have to go looking for it.
However, I still have no trouble summoning the chaos and hurt I felt, and my inconvenience was minor indeed. Please keep those who lost much more in your prayers today and always. For some, April 27, 2011 will never be all the way over.
Here are links to everything I wrote here at the time:
- April 27: Severe storms pound Alabama
- April 28: Aftermath photo from my friend’s house
- April 29: Friday miscellanea, post-Alabama tornado super-outbreak edtion
- April 30: A mundane Saturday evening made extraordinary
- May 1: Relief for anyone who needs it at Good Shepherd UMC
- May 2: Video of April 27 storm damage in Limestone County
- May 3: Alabama is going to need you for a while
- May 4: Thursday miscellanea #135
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