We are flying yellow flags in Orange Beach today - Wednesday, April 29th. Yellow Flags represent a medium hazard and urge caution to anyone entering the Gulf. 🎥: Romar Beach. @spann#alwx
🔴 LIVE: We’re tracking strong storms and tornadoes across the Midwest and Mississippi Valley as tens of millions face a dangerous evening: https://t.co/Feaf8zT3Ip
🙏 A day we will never forget.
To all of you out there who lost loved ones and friends on April 27, 2011… my heart goes out to you.
253 lives were lost across our state that day.
It’s been 15 years, but it’s a day we will never forget.
As I’ve told the story over the years about what our state endured to people around the country, many are often surprised to hear we had two rounds that day.
After we tracked that morning round, I will never forget a newspaper reporter calling me and saying,
“Looks like it all happened earlier than what you guys expected?”
Sadly, I replied… no. Another significant threat is on the way.
The instability was off the charts… and we know how it all unfolded from there.
It was one after another.
With every warning… every camera view nearby… there was a tornado.
Debris was raining down on the station… multiple confirmed tornadoes showing up on radar… doing everything we could to get information out as power was going out and so many were in the dark from the morning round…
And at the same time, realizing what was happening to our communities.
It’s hard for me to fully put into words what that day was like.
At the end of the day we had 62 tornadoes. A very dark day in our history and something I pray we never witness again in our lifetime.
In the days that followed, I talked to so many volunteers that came in from out of state.
And what I kept hearing over and over again was this…
They had never seen anything like the way our neighbors helped neighbors.
In the middle of devastation, there was so much compassion, strength, and people showing up for each other in ways that still stay with me today.
It was a moment that defined Alabama Strong.
I hope you have a chance to join us this evening as we visit with many in our community, sharing stories from that day and how far we’ve come since.
And while there happens to be talk of storms in the forecast…
Please always know: that event was generational.
I understand why it comes to mind and I’m right there with you.
But nothing like that is on the radar for our area. We’ll keep you informed on what’s to come.
But today… we remember.
We are flying yellow flags in Orange Beach today - Sunday, April 26th. Yellow Flags represent a medium hazard and urge caution to anyone entering the Gulf. 🎥: Cotton Bayou Beach. @spann#alwx
First Alert Weather Day for storm impacts Friday night and into Saturday morning. Some storms could bring very strong wind gusts and frequent lightning. This is forecast radar data from the Baron 3km guidance for midnight.