dan11295

from KOAM:

Updated at 12:45 pm: The Associated Press is reporting a nursing home owner says Sunday's tornado killed 11 from his property alone.

Sad but not surprising. Nursing home residents are very vulnerable in this kind of event..

Re: shopping centers/commercial areas. Historically at least recently there have been very few fatalities in commercial structures, as they are constructed better and they often have more secure areas in their interiors to seek shelter. A well played video today shows people survived in one building by getting in the freezer. People have also used bank vaults to the same affect (not relavent specifically here as it was a Sunday). Big box stores are probably more vulnerable. Will have to see if their were many deaths in the Rangeline area.

A more recent comparison is the Tuscaloosa tornado last month. Both were relatively close in strength, both went to cities of comparable size and the total damage area is each community looks to be somewhat similar (Tuscaloosa storm carved a longer path as the city is somewhat larger but the Joplin storm may have been a bit wider). The Joplin storm hit more tightly packed blocks of single family residences whereas in Tuscaloosa more damage was done to apartments. Hopefully we can get an idea of the number of people in the core damage path in Joplin (it was about 6,000 people in Tuscaloosa). Tuscaloosa storm was better warned, more visible and awareness was more hightened in general. Neither of the too community had many dwelling with basments. Mobile homes are a non factor in either case. Tuscalossa was a weekend, Joplin a Sunday.

All variables that will have to be examined as do why so many more died in Joplin.

Obviously we do know yet if any one location had a high number of fatalities. Though from other forums I had read there were 4 at the hospital and 7 at a nursing home. Note that a nursing home was hit in Tuscaloosa also I believe, but IIRC that had been evacuated/taken some other shelter beforehand.

There is no question that the combination of time (Sunday afternoon) how fast it developed and the fact it was rain-wrapped were all contributing factors. From reviewing the warnings it was obviously warned, but none of the warnings indicated a large/violent tornado was possible until it was already mostly through the city.Only the last warning as it was entering the city included on-the-ground confirmation. Only so much you can do to warn when it spins up that fast.

Some good news here. Apparently 3 people were just pulled alive in Concord, AL. Of course that also raises the possibity of finding more fatalities.

Anyone know if it's true that over 400 people are missing in Tuscaloosa alone? They mentioned that on TWC last night before I went to bed.

If true, death toll could be over 5 or 600.

I would suspect (fortunately) that a high percentage of those have simply gone to relatives etc. That is often the case in these kind of events.

AP now reporting 339 dead which makes this the 2nd deadliest tornadic outbreak in U.S. history.

That statement is based on the reports published at the time of the events. Wikipedia lists two outbreaks with more fatalities, one in 1920 and other in 1936. The pages for both those events indicate that fatalities from many outbreaks prior to 1950 may have been undercounted because African-Americans were often excluded from official reports.

death toll past 1974 now

http://www.google.co...f5d68f67d174739

Mind boggling, and very sad. Of course we all knew going into that day that a major outbreak was very likely, but you just never know when an event can go from something mundate to devastating. Too many large, violent storms hitting populated areas Some of which likely had no power from earlier in the day. which is something that will have to be analyzed wrt this event. How many of the communities with significant fatalities got no/limited forewarning due to loss of power from that severe MCS in the morning?

If there is some bit of encouragement the death toll in Tuscaloosa proper has not risen since yesterday, I know there were some reports yesterday that it might rise significantly. From past experience there tends to be misinformation in these types of situations.

Just watching some aerials from Hackleburg here. Devastation. Simply no other way to put it. Houses with just foundations left. Large industrial facilities completely mangled with dozens of tractor trailers tossed around and smashed.

that 213 number includes 30 in TN now......

Regarding the coverage. The problem with the Cable news channels is after 4 pm they go to shows where the host is supposed to focus on some specific subject, usually politics. As such to tend to ingnore things like single day severe weather events.

From ABC6 via twitter "Bill Castle just came in from our chopper. Reports EF-4/EF-5 type damage non-stop from Tuscaloosa to north of B.." 20% of the state of AL has no power right now also.

This CNN Report had 149 fatalties in AL and 32 in MS. This AP Story with 194 does not include the 21 additional ones from AL. . Sad to think these numbers may still rise. as they do much search and rescue in the daylight today.

Just shows that while advanced warning and better radar technology can and undoubtedly has reduced the loss of life in these events in the last 10-20 years especially, when you are dealing with high end events, in some cases it is just not much people can do. Hard to get out of the way of a 1/2 mile-mile wide EF4+ going through a populated area at high speed.

Note that if one tries to compare the Tuscaloosa storm to events such as is Moore 5/3/99 F5, that storm while very intense also, was a very slower mover. Allowed more time to people to shelter, etc.

CNN now reports 32 fatalities in MS, 11 GA..173 in total

The SPC LSR's report 9 GA deaths (2 in Trenton, 7 in Ringwald) as well as 1 in VA from a probable Tornado

CNN just reported that the Gov. of Alabama has stated there are 128 fatalities in his state alone

There is no question this is the worst Tornado Outbreak since 1974. You have to remember that our warning capability for Tornadoes is much better than in 1974.

For what area and time period? Any other info on this?

And it appears that everyone else also thinks the Tuscaloosa and Andover tornadoes are virtual twins.

They just stated it was just for Pleasant Grove

Cell looks for be going S of Rome at least...

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

751 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC117-280100-

/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0123.000000T0000Z-110428T0100Z/

SHELBY AL-

751 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SHELBY COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM

CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY CONTINUES FOR ALABASTER...CHELSEA...

AT 750 PM CDT...A ***YOU FORGOT TO SELECT A DEFAULT OPTION***. THIS

TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ALABASTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...

COLUMBIANA...CHELSEA...RIVERCHASE...VERIZON MUSIC CENTER AT OAK

MOUNTAIN...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...

HIGHLAND LAKES...MEADOWBROOK AND LAKE PURDY.

Understandably, they are trying to gets things out very quickly..

Still have 3 TORE's active at the moment,...

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL

714 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC023-280030-

/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0085.000000T0000Z-110428T0030Z/

CHOCTAW AL-

714 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY...

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN

CHOCTAW COUNTY...

AT 711 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM

SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS

TORNADO WAS BETWEEN CYRIL AND YANTLEY...OR ABOUT 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF

BUTLER...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...

PUSHMATAHA AND YANTLEY AROUND 720 PM CDT...

CROMWELL...LISMAN AND RIDERWOOD AROUND 725 PM CDT...

MOLLIE...HALSELL...JACHIN AND LITTLE WALKER AROUND 730 PM CDT...

THIS TORNADO HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY

DAMAGE IN CLARKE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI.

TORE For the cycled through Tuscaloosa-Birmingham cell

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

705 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC015-055-115-280045-

/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-110428T0045Z/

CALHOUN AL-ST. CLAIR AL-ETOWAH AL-

705 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ETOWAH...NORTHEASTERN ST.

CLAIR AND NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR NORTHERN ST. CLAIR...NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN

COUNTY...AND SOUTHERN ETOWAH COUNTY...

AT 659 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A

CONFIRMED TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RAGLAND...OR 8

MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARKTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...

MARKTON...RAINBOW CITY...8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GADSDEN MALL AND 9

MILES SOUTHEAST OF GADSDEN AROUND 710 PM CDT.

GLENCOE AROUND 715 PM CDT.

HOKES BLUFF AROUND 720 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADO INCLUDE COBB CITY.

THIS INCLUDES...

INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 174 THROUGH 188...

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL

659 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC023-280030-

/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0085.000000T0000Z-110428T0030Z/

CHOCTAW AL-

659 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY...

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN

CHOCTAW COUNTY...

AT 656 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM

SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS

TORNADO WAS 13 MILES WEST OF CYRIL...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF

QUITMAN...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...

CYRIL AND YANTLEY AROUND 715 PM CDT...

PUSHMATAHA AROUND 720 PM CDT...

LISMAN...RIDERWOOD...CROMWELL AND MOLLIE AROUND 725 PM CDT...

THIS TORNADO HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE NEAR

ENTERPRISE MISSISSIPPI.

..And another TORE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS

658 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

MSC023-075-280015-

/O.CON.KJAN.TO.W.0162.000000T0000Z-110428T0015Z/

CLARKE MS-LAUDERDALE MS-

658 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR

SOUTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE AND NORTHEASTERN CLARKE COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR THE WARNED AREA...

AT 658 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS AND STORM

SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS

TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MIDDLETON MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO

INCREASE AND SNELL

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

658 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC007-021-117-121-280045-

/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0121.000000T0000Z-110428T0045Z/

CHILTON AL-BIBB AL-SHELBY AL-TALLADEGA AL-

658 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN TALLADEGA...

SHELBY...NORTHEASTERN BIBB AND NORTH CENTRAL CHILTON COUNTIES UNTIL

745 PM CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY CONTINUES FOR MAYLENE...ALABASTER...SHELBY

COUNTY AIRPORT AND SOUTHERN HELENA AND SOUTH PELHAM...TAKE COVER

IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT WAIT!

AT 655 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM

SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS

TORNADO WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF WILTON...OR 8 MILES WEST OF

MONTEVALLO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...

MONTEVALLO...CALERA...ALABASTER...HELENA...PELHAM...COLUMBIANA...

CHELSEA...TALLADEGA SPRINGS...WILSONVILLE AND CHILDERSBURG.