Tuscaloosa EF4 Tornado April 27, 2011 James Spann, Jason Simpson ABC33/40 SkyCam Coverage

Рет қаралды 558,655

13 жыл бұрын

This is the awesome coverage provided by James Span, Jason Simpson, and all the behind-the-scenes members of the ABC33/40 weather team, providing detailed coverage about where exactly this devastating tornado is. No other weather team is able to present the weather with the knowledge of the small details, like nearby businesses, small communities, etc that let people know EXACTLY where the storm is at any given moment.
It is important to remember that, despite the excellent coverage by virtually all news outlets in the state and the advanced warnings of the coming dangerous atmospheric conditions well in advance, 44 people in the Tuscaloosa area were killed by this tornado, including six students of The University of Alabama. In total this tornado killed 64 people.
While property can be replaced, human life cannot. When there is a chance of dangerous weather listen to your weather experts and have a plan to take cover from the storms.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tu...

Пікірлер: 561

@balls536 4 жыл бұрын

Save one life, you’re a hero, save hundreds, you’re James Spann.

@kevincarden6875 3 жыл бұрын

Kids learn that in school in Alabama he has always been a hero and he deserves to know that.

@denelson83 3 жыл бұрын

James did _such_ a good job reporting on this outbreak.

@raiderettechyna8138 2 жыл бұрын

Amen to that

@ImTheRealChum 2 жыл бұрын

You gotta meet Tom skilling then

@joeytherabbit8745 2 жыл бұрын

@@ImTheRealChum yes!

@stormchaser12345 12 жыл бұрын

Watched this LIVE! Spann deserves some sort of award. I have NEVER seen coverage like this.

@alemarion 4 жыл бұрын

Following the outbreak, Spann did receive two major awards: Broadcaster of the Year, by the National Weather Association, and the Award for Broadcast Meteorology, by the American Meteorological Society.

@altfactor 4 жыл бұрын

@@alemarion He should also have won a special National Emmy Award for News and Public Affairs.

@bigj4573 4 жыл бұрын

Same

@JaydeSabbath 4 жыл бұрын

Ken Cook was on par with him too.

@tomwolfe6063 4 жыл бұрын

He could go anywhere he wanted, but in Alabama, he’s a hero. It goes: Beat Bryant and Nick Saban followed closely by James Spann.

@cassiemills224 5 жыл бұрын

I was at our restaurant with my husband in Northport and could only watch as our beloved town was being shredded. I remember turning to him and saying "This is really going to be bad". We were only 1 of 5 restaurants in the county still with power and open, so we spent the rest of the day sending out food to survivors and first responders. People were coming in hungry, dirty, bloody, and broken. It was like a horror movie. We fed them until we ran out of food. I remember when we finally closed up and tried to drive to our home on the South side of Tuscaloosa, the devastation and eeriness of it all. It was like a war zone sounds so cliché until you live it. Twisted cell phone towers, torn and tossed cars littered the street. Sirens wailed. No power anywhere. So many lives lost. So many homes destroyed. Gone. Even the grass was ripped up. Thankfully both our home and business were safe and we could focus on helping with relief efforts.

@nightandfayeify 4 жыл бұрын

Bless you for helping those people afterwards.

@cuhnty2032 4 жыл бұрын

bless you and your husband ❤️

@johnd9357 4 жыл бұрын

What restaurant did you own? It’s very likely I was one of the people you fed. I remember that night and the day after I didn’t want for food or water at all. So many generous establishments were making sure we were fed and had water.

@dpflack1744 4 жыл бұрын

I have a question for you have you ever seen a tornado 🌪 during the tornado warning ⚠️ I’m just wondering I hope 🤞 you have a great 👍 day lol 😂

@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews 3 жыл бұрын

We had an even bigger and more dangerous tornado come through Parkersburg right here in Iowa in 2008 it was an F-5 rated higher than this tornado and it destroyed every single building in it's path like when someone stomps on a sand castle. There was nothing but foundations and rubble everywhere, people died. This tornado was over a mile wide and it grinded through 43 miles of land before dissapating. There were receipts from Parkersburg found in Wisconsin over 100 miles away from where the tornado ended. It was a monster.

@P_RO_ 6 жыл бұрын

7:18 When Mr. Spann gets this shocked, you'd better be paying attention!

@megaoldskool76 3 жыл бұрын

And PRAYING 🙏🏾

@chriss.2978 3 жыл бұрын

Yes it's rare that he is left speechless.

@Sarahlynn1304 3 жыл бұрын

@@chriss.2978 he was during last weeks tornado outbreak because it hit his house while his wife was home

@PicklEmpire 3 жыл бұрын

@@Sarahlynn1304 obviously hes going be speechless

@dpflack1744 3 жыл бұрын

@@PicklEmpire I just subscribe to your KZfaq channel ok 👌 Dude.

@itsalleternal 13 жыл бұрын

That was EPIC coverage. James Spann should be covering EVERY outbreak, EVERYWHERE (with a first focus on local coverage). He deserves an Emmy for that.

@megaoldskool76 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!!

@currymcflurryx9543 Жыл бұрын

I watch him every time there is a storm and he doesnt even cover my area lol

@Shank5ter Жыл бұрын

I think his news station won an Emmy for this, actually

@donniewinter5331 Жыл бұрын

He did win it

@Ineptune 3 жыл бұрын

I'm watching him live for today's outbreak. Almost ten years later and he's still just as good.

@ProudBostonian 2 жыл бұрын

I’ll bet with better technology he’s able to be even more accurate which is really saying something because he’s almost always been accurate in everything I’ve ever watched with him in it. I know this one bothers him to this day because of the number of deaths but none of it was his fault and I think he’s finally allowed himself to believe that according to a recent interview I saw him give with Reed Timmer

@nalleinsowilo6268 Жыл бұрын

I study weather in UCLA college and I study his broadcast for school.

@johnd9357 6 жыл бұрын

I was in college when this hit. One of the scariest days of my life for sure. When we came out, we were literally disoriented because NOTHING remained. All the landmarks were just....gone.

@camdensmith5662 3 жыл бұрын

Thankful you survived

@leaderofcommunistchina1427 2 жыл бұрын

Wild

@jamessimon3433 Жыл бұрын

That must have been really unsettling

@thevisionofthemessiah Жыл бұрын

Thankyou I was wrongly put I prison do to witches by the way I'm your messiah a star that fell from heaven today in California showed the world my sign next I will stand on the hill of new mount of olives which will ignite destruction on California

@ryanhallwrites 5 жыл бұрын

James Spann truly is a gift to the Meteorology profession. I no longer live in Tuscaloosa, but I grew up there and I still consider it home. The first time I visited after the tornado, I was awestruck by the damage it did. April 27 will forever be a sacred date in my soul.

@jhssuthrnmama 6 жыл бұрын

I got chills watching this 7 years later.

@buffsuki7683 6 жыл бұрын

jhssuthrnmama It's just something you can't forget when you see it

@taradactule6052 5 жыл бұрын

This one and Joplin have stayed with me

@kenbard2611 5 жыл бұрын

You got Facebook tara?

@KatelynIngle 4 жыл бұрын

Same. Hackleburg was a monster. We live bout 30 mins from there.

@gemini-vibes6118 4 жыл бұрын

@@KatelynIngle Hackleberg is a seriously underrated tornado.. it was a powerful EF-5 with one of the longest tracking records since the tri-state tornado. Only Joplin tops it in damage and deaths.

@jasongann8535 12 жыл бұрын

I didn't know who James spann was until this day, a true professional is what he is, his city is being demolished and he's keeping his cool, unbelievable.

@maggiesatterfield2402 10 жыл бұрын

For those who do not know...Tuscaloosa is home to over 93,000 permanent residents plus 35,000 students at the University of Alabama. It is the fifth largest city in Alabama. It is located 57 miles SW of Birmingham and 70 miles NW of the state capitol in Montgomery. The tornado that hit Tuscaloosa hit Birmingham and hour later. This SAME tornado was the one that hit Pleasant Grove, Hueytown, and Pratt City before moving thru the north side of Birmingham into Fultondale.

@missmiss5051 6 жыл бұрын

Maggie Satterfield there was debri falling out of the sky in Birmingham from Tuscaloosa 50 miles away as this was destroying Tuscaloosa. reciepts, bills tags etc.... huge, most powerful system, exteremely long track Friend of mine in pratt city was hit, tried to suck her out of her basement, a wall fell on her and was the only thing that saved her. Her shoes and glasses were sucked off of her. Her neighbor was not so lucky she died, was sucked out of her basement thrown several hundred yards and died

@rileysmith9843 6 жыл бұрын

missmiss 56 I saw a Starbucks receipt and pieces of the Starbucks itself as well as all the clothes from a clothes store and a boutique, cars, trucks, semis, tires, etc. fall from the sky in the renmants of Phil Campbell.

@yeetspageet5679 6 жыл бұрын

+Riley Smith yeah, Phil Campbell was no joke. The thing even ripped the roof off of a storm shelter.

@amandaharper636 5 жыл бұрын

I live in Odenville 45 mins north of Birmingham and 35 mins south of Gadsden and I had mail from Tuscaloosa in my yard. It took out most of the houses across the street from me. Scary stuff. I pray we never experience another day like April 27th.

@brianmears3388 5 жыл бұрын

Panama City, Florida had their April 27th yesterday.

@realkurkorelrisch2523 8 жыл бұрын

Jason Simpson learned a thing or to from James Spann because when he moved to Huntsville the weather forecast/tornado warnings have been top shelf. Great meteorologists.

@mws755 5 жыл бұрын

Maybe Spann learned from him because Simpson obviously has a better sense of direction

@RainbowDash72 9 жыл бұрын

James Spann is up there with Gary England and Ned Perme as my favorite meteorologists.

@F4FireAndSecurity 9 жыл бұрын

James span is my favourite meterologitst

@carlahead2945 7 жыл бұрын

RainbowDash72 Most Definitely!!

@ohh338 7 жыл бұрын

he's really really good!!

@mikeisforreal6030 7 жыл бұрын

My favorite is Al Roker

@staticfrequencies_fm 6 жыл бұрын

Legendary, MY Favorite meteorologist ever.

@ILoveOldTWC 5 жыл бұрын

7:23, "All you can do is pray for those people." 🙏 James Spann said it all in that statement. Notice that neither James, nor Jason say a word for 5 seconds after that. James knew the situation was out of his hands.

@Broker205 2 жыл бұрын

James Spann is an absolute hero to us here in the Birmingham Metro area! He will damn near tell you the addresses where the tornadoes are!

@waynebrasler 5 жыл бұрын

My involvement in radio and television goes back to 1949 when I was 9. I hung around the stations so much in my home town I could walk right in and no one ever questioned my presence. Just being there gave much such an education. The reporting of the Tuscaloosa disaster by Mr. Spann, Mr. Simpson and everyone was awesome. Such clarity, such dignity, such focus and no drama! The lives saved had to be enormous.

@Jimddddd1981 7 жыл бұрын

Just had the privilege of hearing James Spann speak live at a storm spotting seminar in Chicago. What an amazing speaker! Very knowledgeable. If he was a meteorologist at a TV station in Chicago I might start watching the local news.

@w.cooksy421 4 жыл бұрын

10:51 Listen to the shock in this guy's voice. I can't imagine being in his position after getting the camera back up and running and realizing how dangerously violent the tornado has grown.

@jimaccardi1076 3 жыл бұрын

My son was a freshman at UA that day...he texted me: "I think this huge tornado is coming through here." That's the last I heard from him until 10:30 that night... he was with a bunch of other students huddled at the Rec Center...not a great feeling if you a parent (or any family member)...btw...Jason Simpson is now the chief meteorologist in Huntsville, where I live...

@hlslayer123 13 жыл бұрын

I like how they didnt just cover the one big tuscaloosa tornado, but instead also covered the other 2 that were happening.

@alabamajenny8751 Жыл бұрын

Who remembers how tropical it felt that day in Alabama?? Crazy wind sheer, so humid, so warm it felt like a summer day at the beach.

@La_Ru-yg8es Ай бұрын

It was super extra humid further south in Mobile, too. We were not in the danger zone, and it's normal for Mobile to be warm, sticky, and humid from about February through September. But, that day felt "extra." I know what you mean by how the weather feels "wrong" on days when there's a high TorCon index. Not just the high CAPE values, (which we experience as the humidity/dew point), but also, as you mention, that weird, wrong wind. I live in another state now, in an area not nearly so prone to tornadoes, but I almost don't need to see weather reports on risk days. I think some of us are born with almost an innate sense or intuition as regards weather. Like, human barometers with built in wind guages, lol. What creeps me out is when it's been raining "normally", then the clouds abate and the sun comes out, causing ground warming and further air destabilization. You just know it's fixin' to get interesting later on in the afternoon & evening! Best you can hope for is that any discrete supercells get absorbed into a QLCS, still a little dangerous, but not the threat that those individual cells pose. Oh, and James Spann is nothing short of a living legend! ❤️

@tylerseverance5789 3 жыл бұрын

I'm not from Alabama but heard stories from people who were there James Spann saves hundreds of lives that day, if any civilian deserves a spot at Arlington National Cemetary, it's this man

@F5Storm1 5 жыл бұрын

He's a hero, he saved so many lives that day

@MillTicket074 2 жыл бұрын

A day I’ll NEVER forget. I remember standing on the balcony of my apartment on the west side of town looking at how huge it was as it shredded south Tuscaloosa, when I couldn’t see it anymore I got in my car and drove to the rosedale/10th avenue area and was in awe of all the destruction it caused. Homes and apartments complexes destroyed, totaled cars everywhere, people crying, screaming, bleeding, dead everywhere. It was like I was standing in the middle of where a war had just taken place, not knowing that this was just a portion of the damage throughout the city. RIP to all the lives Lost on this unforgettable day.

@danielabernathy6123 4 жыл бұрын

My dad was about 5 miles away from this. He's a Truck Driver, and he was delivering in Tuscaloosa when it hit. Man, was I so scared and worried for him.

@dillyboyq 2 жыл бұрын

The way the horizontal vortices reach out of the tornado like it’s alive and has a mind of its own… so eerie

@nomiddlenamenmn427 3 жыл бұрын

That tornado was a monster. So many beautiful lives lost on that fateful day. RIPP.

@carsoncobb9325 6 жыл бұрын

James Spann, Ned Perme, Gary England, Doug Heady, Todd Yakoubian all of them provide great coverage of weather. They are the Greats

@denelson83 3 жыл бұрын

David Payne too.

@123juneau 6 жыл бұрын

James Span is a credit to his profession and undoubtedly saved countless lives over his career. For many years the average resident meteorologist took after the "Al Roker clown show" method of reporting the weather- almost every television market had one resident clown on staff. Thank God there are very notable exceptions such as in Tuscaloosa and Oklahoma City where professionalism over rides entertainment and stupidity.

@daystar73 5 жыл бұрын

Foh

@dicemaster1996 5 жыл бұрын

What exactly makes Al Roker a clown?

@spacechaser6369 5 жыл бұрын

With storms this bad we really need it

@statboy08 4 жыл бұрын

All jokes, no science

@MasonsInquiries 10 жыл бұрын

Scary tornado!! GREAT coverage by the 2 meteorologists!

@MasonsInquiries 10 жыл бұрын

Outstanding work, James Spann!!

@fitfogey 2 жыл бұрын

When James Spann can’t believe what he’s seeing, be afraid, be very afraid. “Are you kiddin’ me?” If you ever hear that know that the situation is dire.

@spookybass1966 6 жыл бұрын

This is the first time I’ve seen James Spann. He is very professional as well as urgent. Alabama was lucky to have him and his co-anchor that day. I’m from Chattanooga but live in Charlotte. I was in Baltimore on business and had just wished my Mom back in Chattanooga a happy birthday that morning. By evening, I was monitoring Paul Barris, another great meteorologist for WRCB in Chattanooga, and was scared to death when Ringgold, GA, about 10 mi, from my parent’s house, was hit by an EF4. It brought back memories of 1974.

@edgeofdecember_2880 5 жыл бұрын

Chattanooga is awsome, it's my favorite city iv been, small but super nice. I got drunk and walked around all nite one day, it's weird it gets quite at night even in the center of the city

@yessie7158 6 жыл бұрын

I'm from New Mexico and I remember this day because I had just had a baby the day before and so on the 27th my nurse was letting me know that she had family there in Tuscaloosa and was scared that she was going to get a call letting her know her family didn't make it. It was a very sad day.

@plawson8577 4 жыл бұрын

Were they okay?

@lauranorwar 4 жыл бұрын

Patrick Lawson I was wondering the same thing. I hope they were!

@merianharper9551 4 жыл бұрын

James Spann takes off the jacket....uhoh....Rolls up his sleeves? "Shit just got REAL."

@oscarxruby4life800 3 жыл бұрын

Tie gone? FUCK WE’RE DEAD! 😰

@alabamajenny8751 Жыл бұрын

I will never forget this broadcast. When we saw the tornado in full view down in Tuscaloosa, I became nauseous. I had never never seen a tornado live, and in our state. Our state had so many tornadoes that day. We walked across street to our neighbors basement. This was before the polygon warnings, I believe. So we all went to cover. We were hit by the morning storm that day. So our power came from limited via generator. When we hear James Spann, still calm, but serious, it is gripping. You know it is time to get to your safe place. This man knows Alabama like the back of his hand. James and Jason got us through the trek of the tornado that came from Tuscaloosa. It was an unforgettable day. God bless all those we lost that day. Spring is wild around here and fall, at times. We are so lucky to have you, James Spann.

@BasicallyStevee 11 жыл бұрын

James Spann's voice brings me comfort, even when he's giving the scarriest news.

@barbarahenry9231 3 жыл бұрын

Yes!!!’

@dhaveron 9 жыл бұрын

I miss AL a lot! I used to watch James Spann and the news everyday! :~

@S.Roth94 10 жыл бұрын

This is the best tornado coverage I've ever seen. Hands down.

@TheRedDeath71 4 жыл бұрын

This Went Down In History

@ecoRfan 4 жыл бұрын

“Super Outbreak” says everything about what happened

@ellys1aa 3 жыл бұрын

10 years later and he’s still saving lives. Fucking insane

@barbarahenry9231 3 жыл бұрын

He’s wonderful

@WastelandBowman 3 жыл бұрын

If this happened live today, you’d have a ton of people saying, “Fake news. Aint no tornado. Don’t tell me I can’t be out walking!”

@Th3Sk1pp3r 3 жыл бұрын

I am a leftist. I live in Alabama. If there is one person Alabamians listen to it is James Spann. Anyone the can point to Guinn on a map and pronounce it correctly gets the truth pass. Now if anyone else said it. . . You’d be right.

@vwd3437 3 жыл бұрын

He became my favorite weather man after this major tornado event! Very calm and informative telling people to run for their lives!

@Hurricane0721 2 жыл бұрын

I like James Spann. He tells the situation like it is, and he tries his best to help protect others from dangerous weather like this tornado. If I was a meteorologist, then helping to protect others would be my primary motivation in studying tornadoes like this.

@melissajohnson2935 6 жыл бұрын

We had a tornado the night before in Louisiana from this same system. It passed just behind my neighbor's across the street house. It was only a EF1 and it was scary as Hell. I can't imagine being in this. The worst feeling of being in a tornado is the sounds and the feeling of all the air being sucked out of your house. I could actually hear the window frames move when the pressure changed.

@JessEla87 2 жыл бұрын

Watching this almost 11yrs later still makes me nauseous and gives me chills. I helped in Hackleburg/Phil Campbell after they were hit that day. It was devastating

@Diskoboy1974 Жыл бұрын

Was sitting in my aunts storm shelter in Childersburg watching this and listening to the NOAA weather radio. Fortunately, we didn't get a tornado. But we were definitely on our toes that day. Ironically, my aunt lived there for over 40 years, and that was the first, and last time, she used her backyard storm shelter.

@leebaseball11 5 жыл бұрын

Remember watching this like it was yesterday. James Spann is the best

@jbilly24 5 жыл бұрын

Wow. Spanns command of geography...

@madmikemackas 2 жыл бұрын

Some days you never forget. This was one. Unfortunately, many did not make it past this day. PS: James Spann is an absolute legend

@terrak8768 5 жыл бұрын

As I watched this huge cloud that this tornado was in destroy parts of Tuscaloosa, the sun was shining in Samantha... approximately 25 miles north. A huge, bright rainbow moved along behind the black cloud. It was eerie and beautiful simultaneously.

@RicardoPerez-rz8pu 4 жыл бұрын

Was it weird to have all that ?.

@fitfogey 2 жыл бұрын

Not only that. For the next 3 days none of us had power. They were the most beautiful 3 days weather-wise we have ever had in Alabama. They were cool, bright, sunny, etc. I always say we do get the most beautiful weather in Alabama but man do we pay for it.

@honey2349 2 жыл бұрын

I remember watching this live mortified. I live I Birmingham and was a highschool senior that year . We had literal debris in Birmingham that had mail that was from Tuscaloosa and paperwork and whatnot that made its way all the way to Birmingham. We all talked about how nuts it was that literal mail addressed to Tuscaloosa residents landed in the yards of suburbs in Birmingham....

@BeneathTheVioletSky 12 жыл бұрын

I live in Warrior and I have a phobia of tornadoes. I was doing well with my fear until April 27. That day set me back five years and caused mass storm anxiety for nearly everyone in the state. Hundreds dead and nearly a year later and clean up is still going on.

@carlahead2945 7 жыл бұрын

BeneathTheVioletSky I too have a fear of tornadoes and lightning; isn't there a Facebook page for people who are afraid of tornadoes.I used to live in GA and there were tornadoes,but nothing nowhere near like this day. I hope you stayed safe,and don't worry about being afraid of tornadoes; I too have that phobia which I'll probably never overcome. If there's a support group that you know of,please post it and I'll join it.

@w1millsap 7 жыл бұрын

I saw the damage of that tornado 4-6 months later( I was in k5 so I don't remember) and I am terrified of tornados now

@daisylover4872 6 жыл бұрын

BeneathTheVioletSky same

@LupeCoded 4 жыл бұрын

I'm from Texas. We've never had an outbreak like this. However, I did live in Mississippi for a while and I lived through Hurricane Katrina. This broadcast is definitely relatable. Truly, this is one of the best tornado videos I've ever seen in my life. The weather man truly captures the urgency of the situation and you get to see this monster from its infancy.

@ThatMeansHesMad 3 жыл бұрын

The Jarrell tornado, not too far north of Austin, was possibly the most vicious tornado in recorded history. Happened back in 1997. This one was a complete freak of nature. It's path was south/southeast, I believe

@Kay-RT2020 3 жыл бұрын

11:00 Me and my sister were at our grandparents house for spring break. They lived in a neighborhood called Skyland Park right off interstates connecting 20/59 and I-359 and we could literally see the tornado from our bedroom window. I was 15 years old at the time and I just recently turned 25 and I can still see the imagine ingrained in my head today. #TuscaloosaStrong

@nerdlife1387 6 жыл бұрын

I've known Jason Simpson since his days at news channel 19 he's one of the best and favorite to listen to

@tomb3374 3 жыл бұрын

Saved many lives that day Mr. Spann

@noelr87 2 жыл бұрын

I still get chills 10+ years later.

@beantangg 10 жыл бұрын

James Spann is a Awesome + great weatherman!!!

@dragon_turtle 3 жыл бұрын

James Spann is a national treasure. I'm not from AL, but damn is he awesome.

@JewandGreek 4 жыл бұрын

I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we have tornado warnings nearly every year. The last one was in May of this year. Fortunately it was minor but it was scary. Our weather hero is Travis Meyer at our CBS affiliate. He is a total pro who is always cool and focused in these situations, and has saved countless lives over the years. This guy Spann is Tuscaloosa's Travis Meyer. A real professional. Simpson did great, too.

@jalenstimes7452 7 жыл бұрын

Today is the 6th anniversary of this horrific outbreak. R.I.P. to those innocent souls who died that fateful day.

@skullmalice5287 5 жыл бұрын

it's been 8 years now. jesus.

@earthboundmisfit1983 12 жыл бұрын

This weatherman kicks ass!!!

@janblackman6204 3 жыл бұрын

I was in Cullman with no power for several days. We had an EF4 just shortly before this tornado so I’m watching what went on in the rest of the world

@Paylala 3 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: this was merely weeks after the legendary Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. What a freakish year for nature.

@WDE1121 3 жыл бұрын

And three days before they killed Bin Laden

@packisbetter90 3 жыл бұрын

2011 was an extreme year

@bionicbioniclething 3 жыл бұрын

And a month before the Joplin tornado

@phillipayoung10 3 жыл бұрын

10 years later and this storm still gives me chills, and I'm from Michigan. The WX team did there thing on keepin' up with this storm amd getting people to safety!!

@wendypicou8503 5 жыл бұрын

OMG I’m petrified and it’s 2019!!! This happened 8 years ago 😳🌪 I remember seeing this on the news 😢💔

@mts9628 4 жыл бұрын

James spann, damon lane, and mile morgan are my favorites because they tone all the severe weather terms so i can understand them.

@kloefdog 13 жыл бұрын

I still can't believe they rate this tornado as a EF4! When I seen footage of the aftermath in Tuscaloosa, I would most definitively rate this as a EF5!

@duke_of_destruction 4 жыл бұрын

This was an awful tornado . I was North of there . I was 2 miles east of Hackleburg. The focus was mainly Tuscaloosa that day. The Marion county tornado was bigger and took more lives

@michaelistheman1533 4 жыл бұрын

And it sounds like there still is visible damage to this day in Alabama from this outbreak?

@ILoveOldTWC 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, it should've been rated an EF-5.

@londonchandler18 3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelistheman1533 There definitely is, though they have built so much since then you can still see where the tornado hit.

@dallascowboysnumberonefan4863 5 жыл бұрын

I love the tornadoes, but not the destruction they cause

@kirkgriffin8882 5 жыл бұрын

Archie Bunker I know, sweetheart.

@Cellmate412162 4 жыл бұрын

Dallas Cowboys Number One Fan What Ian Malcolm said in The Lost World applies perfectly to tornadoes... “Oh yeah, ooohh, aaahh! That’s how it always starts. But then later, there’s running & screaming.”

@shinyxcrab6342 2 жыл бұрын

I remember James Spann coming to talk at my school in the 2nd grade about weather safety either 2002/2003. He’s always been a hero. He told us that when he’s up there he takes his shoes off lol. Whenever there’s mention of severe weather James Spann is the one we listen to. Such a great guy.

@MrRIZZ-he2lv 5 жыл бұрын

James is the life line of that city when it comes to weather. Tragic but im sure he saved lives that day

@ohsap123 3 жыл бұрын

They really did such an amazing job!!! They stayed calm and informed everyone.

@parrisgjerde9212 4 жыл бұрын

Spann knows his history as well. Impressive!

@roro5585 12 жыл бұрын

One year later....and this still gives me chills!

@williamodle5417 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for all you do James Spann

@stevew1452 3 жыл бұрын

I live in the Great Plains, heart of tornado ally, and we don’t have a single weatherman who could touch James Spann. Guy is a once in a lifetime talent. Alabama is lucky to have him

@Havokwreaker 3 жыл бұрын

My mom and I watched this live. We live about an hour away from Tuscaloosa, and had gone to their anime convention since its inception. We were in tears seeing the once-familiar and nostalgic streets and landmarks being wiped from existence before our own eyes. Tldr; my weeb mom and I used to go to cons at U.A.

@r3drapt0r 8 жыл бұрын

this tornado was first reported in Mississippi, if I remember correctly. and I think it was still on the ground when it passed into Georgia. that would make it only the 2nd ever tri-state tornado in recorded history

@josephv.8844 7 жыл бұрын

King Jessepold no it lifted north of Birmingham AL and you could clearly see the tornado touching down just SW of Tuscaloosa

@simplylivinglivingsimply3690 7 жыл бұрын

We found debri from tuscaloosa in our back yards in Tennessee

@jonahperegoy4672 5 жыл бұрын

The tornado that hit Tuscaloosa and Birmingham had a path of 80 miles. However, the supercell that produced it started in Mississippi and produced a series of tornadoes until it was caught in the dryline in North Carolina. Because the updrafts were so strong, stuff picked up by the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa and Birmingham fell in Georgia and Tennessee. The same thing happened with the Cullman-Arab-Russellville tornado, with debris from one family's destroyed home from Arab falling in Tennessee.

@overstuffedghosty 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, it started in Jasper County, MS and cut through Enterprise/ Stonewall, MS and skirted around Lake Bonita In Meridian, MS ( where I was living at the time). And cut up to Tuscaloosa from there. I was home alone and DH was at work... needless to say I was pretty terrified! I found out afterwards that the same system hit Pleasant Grove. AL where some dear friends of mine were living in the northern Birmingham area (Gardendale). This system was a beast that affected people years later. In 2013 hubby and I moved to Kansas and passed through before we moved and visited friends, the ground was still ripped up studded with dead trees. And when we went to visit on our way home at Christmas I’m 2014! 😭

@NascarLuver- 2 жыл бұрын

@One Two that was actually a separate tornado dropped by the same storm. It did lift briefly north of Birmingham

@altfactor 7 жыл бұрын

The April 27th, 2011 tornado outbreak was the biggest natural disaster in the history of Birmingham, Alabama, but may have also been the "finest hour" in the history of Birmingham television. The forecasting and weather warnings given by the local TV meteorologists (most notably James Spann; but there were others who also did outstanding work that day) may have saved literally thousands of lives!

@TimBoyd2012 2 жыл бұрын

It was the biggest tornado outbreak ever, bigger than 1974. Both Guin and Tanner were devestated in that outbreak as well. Tanner was hit by two F-5s back to back.

@anotherzombie8330 4 жыл бұрын

I was living in Phenix City, AL at the time. I remember seeing them going by and I remember being in school where every day after that for three months, the morning announcements would speak about the relief effort for Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Hard to believe this was almost a decade ago i remember it like it was yesterday.

@bonnieakridge6149 3 жыл бұрын

Watching the news tickers as this monster is moving is just giving me chills.

@fredrickrake7450 3 жыл бұрын

A true Hero, Making sure to give exact details of where that tornado was and was moving to and I know that by doing that, saves many, many lives.

@Phantom1963 3 жыл бұрын

I love you ❤️ Alabama... from A friend in Huntsville 💕

@karenwebber9200 3 жыл бұрын

Such awesome work done by these professionals.

@Moose6340 13 жыл бұрын

@itsalleternal Thumbs up for that. I was watching it on streaming from here in NC and he was absolutely amazing. Totally composed and yet very emphatic on getting the word out about how dangerous those storms were. And ABC 33/40's technical and Web hosting people deserve kudos as well, there were over 30,000 people hammering the livestream at the peak of the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornado and it never skipped a beat or stuttered once.

@ilovethetampabaylightning92 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely terrifying.

@tracymenz8723 3 жыл бұрын

I live in Huntsville and I remember this day well. Heartbreaking

@rbryant100 6 жыл бұрын

Tons of great video coverage of the Tuscaloosa tornado. On the opposite end, the Joplin tornado does not have the same kind of video coverage. Probably because it was a large wedge tornado that was mostly wrapped by rain

@Giratina575 5 жыл бұрын

And the fact that it came almost out of nowhere so quickly there was no time

@packisbetter90 3 жыл бұрын

The Joplin Tornado seemed to be the scariest ever. From the just handful of footage it appeared to be dark as night like pitch black then a mile wide monster hit

@blackberrylady6025 5 жыл бұрын

Great coverage.... You are saving lives.....🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏅🏅🏅🏅

@jjgillmen 4 жыл бұрын

7:22 - "...and all you can do is pray for those people." That summed up everything that transpired on that day.

@denisemancina9548 3 жыл бұрын

I remember this day watching it live on TV! Soo scary we were praying for everyone in its path!

@erinrafferty5659 11 ай бұрын

I grew up with James Spann and lived through countless tornadoes in the 90s and 2000s, but this day is why I will never not take any tornado outbreak seriously for the rest of my life.

@billjones7776 10 жыл бұрын

James is GREAT, Remember visiting relatives in Jacksonville and his coverage is TOPS !!!!!! Everyone in The Magic City should be Very Thankful to have a Weatherman as good as James !!!!!

@jasonriette7438 3 жыл бұрын

I drove through here a couple weeks before this tornado hit when the smaller one hit in almost the exact same area. We pulled off the interstate just as it passed and I remember stopping to eat at milos burgers but their power has been knocked out. I remember seeing some debris scattered outside and asking the restaurant workers what had happened and they said a tornado just passed by. I was bummed I didn’t get to witness it as I’ve always been a fan of the movie twister. Well we passed through again a couple weeks later after this big one hit and we drove around to survey the damage and it literally brought tears to my eyes seeing the deviation. Upon coming up to milos we realized the building had been wiped clean off the foundation. God bless those poor souls we’d just seen a few weeks prior.