EMA Officials Say More Than A Half Dozen Homes Were Damaged By Strong Storms Over The Weekend In Etowah County

A National Weather Service storm survey team was in Etowah County Monday to examine the damage left in the wake of the storm from the early morning of April 14, 2019. The storm’s heaviest concentration of damage was in the Rabbittown Road area of Glencoe – although the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency has received reports from other areas as well.  The National Weather Service team has confirmed an EF-1 tornado and it traveled for 2.55 miles. At its widest point, the storm was 100 yards. The storm struck around 6:25 A.M. while Etowah County was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and a Tornado Watch at the time. An EF-1 tornado has winds of 86 to 110 miles per hour.  

EMA staff, along with representatives of the City of Glencoe, accompanied the National Weather Service team as they surveyed the damage path left by the storm. The number of affected homes that have been reported to the EMA is approximately 10 with varying degrees of damage from downed trees all the way up to homes being destroyed. Director Deborah Gaither stated, “I am grateful that we had no injuries. I want to remind citizens tornadoes come out of thunderstorms unexpectedly. This is a prime example.”

If you have damage on your property, and you have not previously reported it to the EMA office, please email pictures to ema@cityofgadsden.com. 

For more information, contact the EMA at 256-549-4575

The National Weather Service says another storm system is expected to move into the Central Alabama area by Thursday morning. Current forecast expectations indicate the possibility of severe thunderstorms to develop that afternoon and track eastward across the state into the evening hours. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and quarter size hail are the primary risks with this storm system.

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