West Alabama Thursday Briefing
It is Thursday March 21, 2024.
On this date in 1932 one of the worst tornado outbreaks in Alabama history devastated Northport. 32 people died and more the 2,500 were injured. Some 10,000 people across the state were left homeless. Nine died and 30 homes were also destroyed in Moundville. Twisters also struck Bibb, Marengo and Perry counties.
My mother Audrey was a little girl living just off what was back then called Broad Street (now University Blvd.). Her parents house overlooked what now is the site of the Mercedes Amp. She told me they saw the twister strike downtown and watched as the debris lifted up, then it was gone.
She always referred to the quiet that was left behind, nothing stirred, then the sirens started. She recalled how for hours ambulances, fire trucks and police cars ran back and forth across the old drawbridge with sirens blaring and red lights flashing.
There were so many injured that there were not enough ambulances to transport them all. She remembered seeing injured people in the backs of pickups being taken to DCH, which was on the UA campus then.
She always remembered how UA students helped, fraternity boys, football team members and others helped get people from under the rubble.
Current meteorological estimates are the tornado on today's Enhanced Fujita Scale would have been rated an EF-4 with wind speeds 208-260 mph.
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There are scattered light showers across southern Sumter County with a larger rain mass moving into western Mississippi this morning. That should set us up for the beginning of rain chances late today through tomorrow night. A few rumbles of thunder are possible but nothing severe is expected.
It was a memory that was with her the rest of her life and only surpassed by the April 27, 2011, EF-4 tornado that struck Tuscaloosa.
What contributed to so many deaths and injured? Remember, in 1932 there was no weather radar, no TV meteorologists, no tornado warnings, no warning systems and no community tornado shelters.
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Today's Pollen Count:
- Tree Pollen: High
- Grass Pollen: Moderate
- Ragwood: Low
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
The U.S. Department of Education has included the Tuscaloosa City School System with Rochester New York Schools as examples of how to work at the community level.
It is now unlawful for a person to pick up absentee ballots and deliver them under the state's new "anti-ballot harvesting law" signed by Gov. Ivey yesterday. In a written statement Ivey vowed there will be, No funny business carried on in Alabama elections.
The Alabama House will consider legislation passed by the senate that will ban gender identity or sexual orientation discussions in schools K-12. The legislation would also ban the display of "gay pride" flags on school property.
According to a new study by UA's Center for Business and Economic research; the university added almost $2.8 billion to the state's economy during the 2020/21 academic year during the height of the pandemic.
A new "Crime Victim Notification System" has been rolled out in Alabama. State Attorney General Steve Marshall told a press conference a new website lets victims and others concerned know when criminals are up for parole, release or have any change in status or custody.
People are dying because rural healthcare in Alabama is insufficient. That is the message activist organizations are sending to the Alabama legislature as they debate rural healthcare legislation.
Topping the Sports News:
The Alabama Women's Basketball Team (23-9) open NCAA play tomorrow. The Tide takes on Florida State at 4:30 Tuscaloosa time in the Austin, TX regional.
From UA Athletics: Alabama softball was knotted up in a close battle against in-state foe UAB Wednesday night at Rhoads Stadium, with a go-ahead sixth inning RBI single from Jenna Johnson ultimately making the difference in the 4-3 win.