storm outbreak
By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — On Saturday, April 24, a ceremony will be held to honor the victims lost in the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak in Rainsville. This year marks the tenth 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.
On Saturday, April 24 at 2 p.m., the final annual ceremony will be held at the memorial, which was built in 2012 at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, State Senator Steve Livingston, and Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter, and WAFF Chief Meteorologist Brad Travis will be the event's featured speakers.
According to Rainsville City Councilmember Bejan Taheri stated this would be the last annual event honoring the victims of the outbreak. A special ceremony will now be held once every five years instead; however, 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).