Tornado Hits Enterprise, Alabama High School
My childrens school phone trees were activated yesterday, announcing early dismissal at 12:00 due to severe storm and tornado warnings that were issued throughout the state. A few years ago we had an F5 tornado blast its way through our community as well as neighboring cities, destroying one high school, several homes and businesses and claiming more than 30 lives. Since that time, all warnings receive immediate action.
While the area I live in luckily escaped any damage from the storms yesterday, other parts of Alabama were not so lucky.
As school buses were lined up in front of an Enterprise, Alabama high school for an early 1:00 dismissal due to weather, a tornado ripped through the school leaving, at last count, 8 teenagers dead and many more injured.
One hall at Enterprise High School collapsed during the storm, trapping a number of students in the rubble near the school’s band room. Hillcrest Elementary School also suffered severe damage from the tornado’s howling winds.
Pandemonium reigned at the school in the minutes after the storm struck, as students were told to go next door to Hillcrest Baptist Church for a safety center. High schoolers, in tears and in shock, wandered amid the pieces of the shattered school and damaged vehicles littering the area, uncertain about what had just occurred. Dozens of parents seeking their children converged on the school. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene to determine which students were the most seriously injured and to transport them to area hospitals and provide treatment to those with less-serious injuries.Other students busied themselves carrying the injured to emergency personnel for treatment and consoling students who were crying and screaming as they looked for friends who were not there.
Relieved parents wrapped their arms around their children when they found them, while parents who could not find their children stood by in shock and disbelief.
Rescue workers continued to work for hours in the tragic atmosphere to rescue the students who were trapped in the rubble.
In downtown Enterprise, a quarter mile-wide swath of the tornado destroyed houses and residences, and winds toppled century-old trees into streets. Besides the high school and Hillcrest Elementary, the storm also damaged Dauphin Street Junior High School, the Enterprise YMCA and other daycares and schools. (Source: EpriseNow.com)
I can only imagine the horror that engulfed these poor students and faculty members as the tornado struck, and that of the parents, some of whom searched in vain for their children.
So far there have been 18 deaths reported citywide. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who lost loved ones and whose homes and businesses sustained damage.
tornados and earthquakes really scare me more than anything. probably since I have experienced those. It all happens so quickly. I join you in thoughts, prayers.
Such a tradgedy!
How terrifying something like this must be to go through. I can’t even imagine it.
My heart and prayers go out to all involved.
What’s also unfortunate is, ’some’ funeral has gotten more media coverage than this catastrophic event.
That would have been terrifying for all involved.
We have figured out how to put people in space. It seems to me someone would have figured out an accurate weather model for predicting Tornadoes. 13 seconds isn’t enough time to react.
Very good point Ryan. It’s not nearly enough time. Especially when you consider that the reaction itself is going to be fed by fear and the pandemonium that will ensue.
Oh wow, that is so tragic. It really saddens me to hear stuff like that. My thoughts are with the families who have lost a child as well. That is my biggest nightmare!!
It’s my biggest nightmare too.. I would imagine that is true with most all mothers.
I can’t even begin to relate to what they must be feeling and will feel for the rest of their lives.
Extremely sad situation.
I go to Enterprise High School and I was in the school along with about 1300 students, teachers, and parents. I was in the science wing which was completely destroyed yet people think that onnly third hall, where the 8 died, was destroyed. But the science wing, third hall, new gym, 50 year old football stadium, hundreds of cars, several buses, and especially lives were taken from us. To be sitting in a classroom for 3 hours and waiting until 1:00 to get out then within 30 seconds be pounded by 2 walls, glass cabients, lab tables, and other debri from different parts of the town is still unimaginable to me & I was under everything that I just said for 28 minutes.
I lost 4 of my good friends and now i have to spend my senior year in portable buildings with odd times to go to school.
I just want to say thank you to everyone that has helped us through donations, voluntering, and just prays.