1908 Albertville tornado: Difference between revisions
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The '''1908 Albertville tornado''' was part of a violent series of tornadoes that struck most of the South between [[April 23]] and [[April 26|26]], [[1908]]. In all, the storms were blamed for at least 320 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. The town of Purvis, Mississippi was completely destroyed with 55 residents killed. Alabama's losses included 48 deaths and 260 injuries from at least four separate tornadoes. | The '''1908 Albertville tornado''' was part of a violent series of tornadoes that struck most of the South between [[April 23]] and [[April 26|26]], [[1908]]. In all, the storms were blamed for at least 320 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. The town of Purvis, Mississippi was completely destroyed with 55 residents killed. Alabama's losses included 48 deaths and 260 injuries from at least four separate tornadoes. | ||
The most powerful funnel cloud, which buzzed through Alabama on the afternoon of [[April 24]], is estimated by the National Weather Service to have been an F4 category tornado on the current Fujita Damage Intensity Scale | The most powerful funnel cloud, which buzzed through Alabama on the afternoon of [[April 24]], is estimated by the National Weather Service to have been an F4 or F5 category tornado on the current Fujita Damage Intensity Scale. | ||
The town of [[Bergens]] in Walker County was levelled. [[Albertville]] was | The tornado touched down near [[Dora]] in [[Walker County]] in mid-afternoon and continued northeast through [[Jefferson County|Jefferson]], [[Blount County|Blount]], [[Marshall County|Marshall]] and [[Dekalb County|Dekalb]] Counties, dissipating near Sylvania two hours later. | ||
The town of [[Bergens]] in Walker County was levelled. [[Albertville]] was almost entirely destroyed, with 15 deaths and 150 injuries blamed on the storm. A 9-car freight train was thrown off its tracks between [[Albertville]] and [[Guntersville]], demolishing it. There was a report of a 9-ton gas tank being carried a half mile from its home. Lightning and hail accompanied the storm all along its path. | |||
By 6:00 PM. about two hours after the tornado hit Albertville, a special train was dispatched from [[Gadsden]] carrying doctors and nurses to staff a makeshift hospital in the town's Agricultural School Building. Requests for additional help were sent out as far as Chattanooga, Tennessee. | |||
In [[2008]] the Albertville Historical Society plans a centennial commemoration of the event. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "[http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/significant_events/1908/04_24/index.php The Dixie Tornado Outbreak - April 24, 1908]" National Weather Service Birmingham. - accessed July 24, 2006 | * "[http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/significant_events/1908/04_24/index.php The Dixie Tornado Outbreak - April 24, 1908]" National Weather Service Birmingham. - accessed July 24, 2006 | ||
* Burgess, Dennis (April 24, 2007) "Killer cyclone hit town 99 years ago today." ''Sand Mountain Reporter.'' | |||
[[Category:1908 events|Tornado]] | [[Category:1908 events|Tornado]] | ||
[[Category:Weather events]] | [[Category:Weather events]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:59, 25 April 2007
The 1908 Albertville tornado was part of a violent series of tornadoes that struck most of the South between April 23 and 26, 1908. In all, the storms were blamed for at least 320 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. The town of Purvis, Mississippi was completely destroyed with 55 residents killed. Alabama's losses included 48 deaths and 260 injuries from at least four separate tornadoes.
The most powerful funnel cloud, which buzzed through Alabama on the afternoon of April 24, is estimated by the National Weather Service to have been an F4 or F5 category tornado on the current Fujita Damage Intensity Scale.
The tornado touched down near Dora in Walker County in mid-afternoon and continued northeast through Jefferson, Blount, Marshall and Dekalb Counties, dissipating near Sylvania two hours later.
The town of Bergens in Walker County was levelled. Albertville was almost entirely destroyed, with 15 deaths and 150 injuries blamed on the storm. A 9-car freight train was thrown off its tracks between Albertville and Guntersville, demolishing it. There was a report of a 9-ton gas tank being carried a half mile from its home. Lightning and hail accompanied the storm all along its path.
By 6:00 PM. about two hours after the tornado hit Albertville, a special train was dispatched from Gadsden carrying doctors and nurses to staff a makeshift hospital in the town's Agricultural School Building. Requests for additional help were sent out as far as Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In 2008 the Albertville Historical Society plans a centennial commemoration of the event.
References
- "The Dixie Tornado Outbreak - April 24, 1908" National Weather Service Birmingham. - accessed July 24, 2006
- Burgess, Dennis (April 24, 2007) "Killer cyclone hit town 99 years ago today." Sand Mountain Reporter.