February 2008
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At least 48 people were killed yesterday across Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama as reported by CNN this morning. This may have been the deadliest single day tornado outbreak since May 31, 1985, when a group of supercell storms barrelled across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, Canada spawning 43 tornadoes and killing 75 people and did an estimated $450 million in damage. The day included Pennsylvania’s only F5 rated twister in history that cut through 47 miles killing 18 and injuring 310!
The entire area yesterday was justifiably under a High Risk by the Storm Prediction Center early in the day. This combined with excellent tornado warning coverage no doubt was a huge factor that we didn’t have more deaths that we have.
Details of deaths, injuries and damage from yesterdays outbreak, the 3rd already in 2008, will undoubtedly be coming in for days to come as massive cleanup efforts are underway. Below are some of the death statistics I have been able to find so far.
TENNESSEE:
SHELBY COUNTY
- One fatality and 5 injured (tornado caused wall of building to collapse).
- THP radio tower with THP and TEMA antennas fell in Arlington.
- Wall collapse during tornado on Sears Building in Hickory Ridge Mall (Chantex Building) in Rockford Subdivision, Memphis.
- 120,000 pounds of Anhydrous Ammonia released into the atmosphere at Hardy Bottling Company, 5151 East Rains, Memphis (no impact on public).
- Memphis Airport closed Runway 927 and Taxiways 2A and 2B; Gate B39 damaged.
FAYETTE COUNTY
- One fatality in Somerville (Fayette County): truck overturned in tornado.
- Up to 25 tractor trailer trucks overturned (revised) on I-40 between Mile Markers 60 and 70 between Memphis and Brownsville.
HARDIN COUNTY
- 3 fatalities (tornado), 3 injured
HICKMAN COUNTY
MADISON COUNTY
- Two fatalities in Denmark (tornado).
- Union University had 16 students trapped in a dormitory, 3 critical injuries.
- Jackson Oaks Retirement Center initially reported 50 persons trapped, but American Red Cross arrived and moved the residents to a shelter.
SUMNER COUNTY
- 5 fatalities, 15 injuries (tornado)
MACON COUNTY
- 10 fatalities, 65 injuries (tornado)
TROUSDALE COUNTY
- Pipeline fire (now burned out), Columbia Gulf Transmission Company, 5422 Green Grove Road, Hartsville, TN
- 2 fatalities (tornado), 1 missing.
ARKANSAS:
There are 12 confirmed fatalities in the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management is reporting injuries in Pope, Conway, Baxter, Newton, Stone, and Van Buren counties. Fatalities are coming in from Pope County, Conway County, Baxter County, Van Buren County, Izard County and Stone County.
Finally, a bit of video of yesterdays events is now starting to surface on YouTube.
Written by David on February 6th, 2008 with 4 comments.
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A massive tornado has produced considerable damage across southeast Memphis. Quite a bit of damage reported at the Memphis International Airport, including the fire station at the FedEx terminal. Roof blown off one hanger. Many planes moved around including a 737!
Tornado went on to damage a lot of homes in Pleasant Ridge and massive damage at the Hickory Ridge Mall. So far no injures or deaths reported as of this writing.
UPDATE: As many as 14 people are trapped in a building near the Hickory Ridge Mall area. Several already have been transported for injuries!
UPDATE 11:36 PM CST: 1 CONFIRMED FATALITY FROM A WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE. 8 OTHERS INJURED AT SAME LOCATION, 2 CRITICAL.
The storm flew up I40 to the NE producing intermittent damage, and then struck Jackson with another damaging tornado. Reports coming from that area are that there is significant damage at Union University where people are reported trapped in the women’s dormitories. The hospital is reported damage, numerous overturned vehicles in the area, and the Northside High School in the Oakhill area is reported damaged.
UPDATE 10:11PM CST: 2 CONFIRMED DEATHS IN THE UNION UNIVERSITY AREA. UNKNOWN IF THIS WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OR NEARBY. SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL TRAPPED AT THE UNIVERSITY.
UPDATE 10:54 PM CDT: ALL BUT 3 OF THE PEOPLE TRAPPED AT UNION UNIVERSITY HAVE BEEN FREED.
UPDATE 11:37 PM CDT: AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE TRAPPED AT THE JACKSON OAKS RETIREMENT HOME. 1 DEATH IN JACKSON, LOCATION UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
Further south more tornadoes have struck in Mississippi in LaFayette County with several homes reported destroyed along with two industrial buildings and a church. One injury reported there at this time.
Other tornadoes have caused damage back to the west in Arkansas as well. Details are still sketchy at this time.
UPDATE 10:12 PM CST: 7 CONFIRMED DEATHS IN ARKANSAS. LOCATION UNKNOWN TO ME AT THIS TIME. 11:33 PM CST 3 FATALITIES WERE ATKINS, AR. 2 FATALITIES IN IN CONWAY COUNTY, AR. CLINTON AND GLASSVILLE, AR EACH HAD ONE FATALITY.
And the severe weather is not even begun to be over yet. Still numerous tornado warnings still in effect, including another one headed in the Memphis direction, and a huge squall line to come through later to hamper rescue efforts across the area.
Super Tuesday just took on a whole new meaning.
Written by David on February 5th, 2008 with 4 comments.
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In what has already been a turbulent year with two decent sized tornado events in January, February is starting out with a bang with the year’s first High Risk!
Already two tornado watches are in effect from NE TX to southern MO and no doubt there will be many more before the day is over! I am a little pressed for time right now, so I will just post up SPCs public discussion for today, as I have had virtually no time to look at the forecast parameters.
PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1041 AM CST TUE FEB 05 2008
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE PARTS OF THE MID
SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW STRONG...LONG-TRACK TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF THE
PARTS OF THE MID SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
A LARGE PORTION OF ARKANSAS
A SMALL PART OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
PARTS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
SMALL PART OF SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI
NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI
WESTERN TENNESSEE
SURROUNDING THE HIGH RISK AREA...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS FROM PORTIONS OF EASTERN OK/SOUTHERN MO
EAST-NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY AND ACROSS THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY
A STRONG LATE WINTER MID AND UPPER LEVEL WEATHER SYSTEM NOW MOVING
INTO SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL SUPPORT AN OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND OTHER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AS IT EJECTS ACROSS THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED
STATES THROUGH TONIGHT. THE AIRMASS AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM IS ALREADY
UNSEASONABLY WARM AND MOIST THIS MORNING...AND WILL UNDERGO FURTHER
HEATING AND MOISTENING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. VIGOROUS THUNDERSTORMS
WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE FRONT BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH WILL
QUICKLY PRODUCE TORNADOES GIVEN COMBINATION OF EXTREME WINDS ALOFT
AND VERY WARM AND MOIST AIRMASS. STORMS WILL LIKELY FORM INTO LINES
AND CONTINUE THE THREAT OF TORNADOES AND WIND DAMAGE INTO THE LOWER
MS RIVER AND TN RIVER VALLEYS OVERNIGHT...WITH THE NORTHERN END
SPREADING UP THE OH RIVER VALLEY.
EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS THROUGHOUT THE ATMOSPHERE WILL SUPPORT THE
THREAT OF LONGER-LIVED STORMS...INCLUDING SUPERCELLS AND FAST MOVING
LINES. THIS WILL ENHANCE THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TORNADOES AND
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION...WITH ADDED
THREAT OF A FEW SIGNIFICANT EVENTS...BOTH TORNADOES AND WIND DAMAGE.
THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THOSE IN THE
THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND
TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.
Needless to say, something bad will probably come from this today.
Written by David on February 5th, 2008 with 3 comments.
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