Marla Jones, Managing Editor
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Today, April 27 marks the 12th anniversary of the historic weather tragedy that is recorded as one of the most deadly storm outbreaks in the South.
According to the National Weather Service, more than 60 tornadoes touched down across the State of Alabama over an entire 24 hours. Three EF-5 tornadoes touched down during the event with one wreaking havoc across DeKalb County. The storm measured more than 200 miles per hour winds with a path measuring 33.8 miles long and 3/4 miles wide.
In total, 248 lives were claimed by the storms in Alabama with 35 citizens of DeKalb County killed.
The victims of this tragedy will never be forgotten.
The victims known are Chelsie Black (20), Charlotte Bludsworth (36), Belinda Boatner (67), Eddie Joe Bobbitt (71), Gene Bullock (65), Marcella Bullock (64), Jewell Ewing (73), Emma Ferguson (6), Jeremy Ferguson (34), Tawnya Ferguson (36), Carol Lisa Fox (50), Hannah Goins (3), Kenneth Graham (56), Linda Graham (61), Ruth Hairston (90), Harold Harcrow (74), Patricia Harcrow (75), Jody Huizenga (28), Lethel Izell (86), Jimmy Michael Kilgore (48), Courtney McGaha (15), William Michaels (70), Martha Michaels (72), Eulah Miller, Ida Ott (87), Timothy Ott (53), Ester Rosson (81), Peggy Sparks (55), Terry Tinker (50), Daniel Vermillion (42), Jidal Vermillion (44), Herbert Wooten (70), Juanita Wooten (70), Wayne White (68), and Judith White (63).
