The First Tornado warning had been issued and was tracking to the area just south of Carbon Hill in fayette county moving northeast toward the Carbon Hill I thought it was going to be more north of me, twenty mins later reports were coming in that the town of Carbon Hill had been hit, and that people in the popular springs area needed to "TAKE COVER NOW AND PUT YOUR TORNADO PLAN IN ACTION NOW AND GO TO YOUR SAFE PLACE" then the power went off. I gathered up my scanner and camera then went to my car. "This is not good I thought to myself". I turned on the radio so I could get more reports then backed up the car and turned it around in the driveway just in case.
Then it seemed to get quite and the rain had slacked off to just a sprinkle, there was an uneasiness in the air. The Lighting was almost constant as I rolled my car window down to hear better. Off in the distance I could hear a rumbling that I thought was thunder, but unlike thunder it was getting louder. "This is not good I thought". It started to have like a high pitched wine to it and kept getting louder. Then Straight line winds hit it didn't take me long to realize what I was Hearing was a Tornado and from the direction it was coming, I thought I might be in serious trouble if i sat where I was at. I throwed the car in gear as the first straight line winds hit and turned and went east as the storm came up from the southwest direction of Carbon Hill.
Heading east I drove out of the worst of it and decided to go on and get gas because this could be a long night. After I filled up my tank and was driving back by my kids house the fist reports started to come in on my scanner. There were reports coming in from my road that trees were down and roads were blocked. Rounding the curve someone was stopping cars and telling them the road was blocked ahead. I continued home and pulled in the driveway to find my house intact, and continued on up the road about a hundred feet to where the Fire Department was trying to clear the road. I parked my car and went to help as reports were coming in about the damage all ove now. With the hum of chain saws and smell of Pine in the air, I walked up and asked if they could use some help. Sure he said just watch what you grag on to theres powerlines down in here somewhere. We worked hard to open a lane to traffic as emergency personal was responding and traffic was backing up. As soon as the lane was open we got reports of a second tornado it would be tracking about the same path but would go through Curry. I immediately jumped in my car and raced toward curry. The Rain and wind increased again slowing my drive. This isn't good I thought..
Turning down one Road I made it only half way only to get behind a car and a white van. One was with the fire department and they was clearing the road with only an axe. After getting a lane open we continued down only to be blocked this time by Power lines hanging just a couple of feet off the ground. I came back up that Road and went over to the next road and got on Curry Highway 257 and was turned around there when I got to the top of the hill by the water tank. It was bad there wreckage and emergency crews had it blocked. "THIS ISN'T GOOD AT ALL I THOUGHT".
I had to detour again i went back up and over to the next Road and turned left to come out down below curry this time. I drove up just past the school and turned down Herman road. I was determined this time as close as I was now, if I ran across any obstacles I would park and walk. I was very concerned now for the safety and well being of my ex-wife and Kids
I turned on to Michelle's Road and it was blocked by a huge oak tree that had fallen. I parked the car and headed toward Michelle's to check on the kids. stepping over power lines and limbs, I made my up the street. It was dark and I could see flashlights up ahead and I heard Michelle's voice. There was Michelle in her front yard holding Haley's Halloween Pumpkin saying it was the only thing that had made it through the storm unharmed. Feelings flooded my mind and our eyes met, just as they always did when iI see her, but soon that thought was gone as I heard Shannon saying something and it broke the spell. My feelings quickly turn to thoughts of my children. I walked over and laid my hand to her shoulder and asked her if everyone was ok. She said "they were all fine they had been in the storm cellar". Only a few cement blocks stood where here double wide trailer had once stood. She said "the kids are inside at Nanny's house and will be happy to see you". As we got closer I could see Damaged to the house and broken windows, they came out on the porch that was covered with broken glass from the glass storm door. They looked pale and shaken, but their faces lit up with smiles as they ran to hug me and held on. Then questions about my house and if the Tornado had gotten it too. I assured them it was ok. Michelle asked me to take the kids home with me, and Haley told Michelle and Shannon they could come too, that there was plenty of room at Dads house. They said they would spend the night with Shannon uncle on smith lake.
So with my kids all holding hands we carefully made it back to the car steeping over power lines and the downed trees. Once in the car we decided to drive to my sisters. Not known at the time we would find out the next day that we had drove by alot of storm dammage. They wasn't home, but their house was still there. Back home we go but had to make several stops along the way because Haley was sick at her stomach. Pulling in to my driveway there sat my sister and her Husband, They had come to check on me when she could get no answer on the phone. With the electricity out we lit candles and two hurricane lamps, and fixed drinks as we listened to all of the storm reports coming in from the police scanner. Then we all went to bed Thankful no one had gotten hurt in our family.
The next morning we got up early and went to wal-mart to get the kids some clothes and school stuff they would have to have. Then we went to my sisters and all took baths and ate dinner. After we left their house we went and bought groceries, since we had no power we bought things that wouldn't need refridgeration.We didnt get power restored till wednesday night. The rest of the week went well. I was happy to have the kids with me, Trevor went thursday night and spent the night with one of his friends. Saturday we all went shopping again. I was really surrprized at how well the kids took it. Austin said as we were driving home that they was lucky to be alive, things could be replaced but life couldn't be replaced. "Yeah the others joined in you can't replace a life". I've never been more proud of my children or as thankful. This Thanksgiving was going to be extra, extra special.
