Mt. Carmel-Altoona Tornado
The F4 tornado first touched down at approximately 1:25 PM CST in the vicinity of Mt Carmel Church, South of US Highway 231 on County Road 29, where several trees were snapped off. The tornado tracked northeast produced extensive F2 magnitude damage to homes and trailer homes along Tidwell Road, where there were several injuries. All trees in the neighborhood were snapped mid-trunk. Blount County 911 received the first calls for assistance at approximately 1:29 PM CST. As the tornado crossed US Highway 231, it completely destroyed a stick-frame house, with F4 magnitude damage. Large trees around the house were uprooted and snapped mid-trunk. From there, the tornado continued moving northeast, and produced it's worst, F4 magnitude damage, between Robbins Lake and Airport Road. Large trees were completely snapped off at ground level; two tandem-wheel dump trucks were overturned, and moved or rolled approximately 30 yards; several storage containers filled with construction supplies and equipment were rolled up to 50 yards; a large bulldozer was moved approximately 5 feet; a large pole-barn building was completely obliterated. The tornado continued northward across Robbins Field, then across unpopulated area, until it entered Western Etowah County in the town of Altoona, at approximately 1:35 PM CST. The tornado descended a steep hill, and downed an entire stand of pine trees at mid-trunk. Several homes and trailer-homes were damaged or destroyed, including a well-constructed $250,000 home, which was completely destroyed, the third occurrence of F4 magnitude damage. The tornado crossed AL Highway 132, ascending a steep hill, and dissipated, making a total track length of 10 miles. At it's widest point, the tornado was approximately one-quarter mile wide. Debris was scattered several miles past the end of the tornado track. A Tornado Warning for Blount County was issued at 12:56 PM CST, valid until 1:45 PM CST. A Tornado Warning was issued for Etowah County at 1:11 PM CST, valid until 2:00 PM CST. Tornado Watch 818 was in effect for Blount and Etowah counties, which was issued at 9:19 AM CST. Special thanks is extended to the Blount County EMA for making the aerial and ground survey of the devastating tornado and for providing pictures. Click on the images for larger view. |