The tornado outbreak of February 28 –March 2,2007 was a deadly tornado outbreak across the southern United States that began in Kansas on February28,2007. The severe weather spread eastward on March1 and left a deadly mark across the southern US,particularly in Alabama and Georgia. Twenty deaths were reported;one in Missouri,nine in Georgia,and 10 in Alabama. Scattered severe weather was also reported in North Carolina on March2,producing the final tornado of the outbreak before the storms moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean.[2]
In the end,there were 57 tornadoes confirmed during the outbreak,including three EF3 tornadoes reported across three states,as well as three EF4 tornadoes;two in Alabama and one in Kansas,the first such tornadoes since the introduction of the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Total damages were estimated at over $580million from tornadoes alone,making it the fourth-costliest tornado outbreak in US history (the figure not including damage from other thunderstorm impacts including hail and straight-line winds).[1] Insured losses in the state of Georgia topped $210million,making this outbreak the costliest in that state's history.[3]Enterprise,Alabama,which was hit the hardest,sustained damages in excess of $307million.[4]
Meteorological synopsis
The tornado outbreak was caused by a large low-pressure system across the central United States that intensified on February28 over Kansas,and a cold front moved across the region,providing the lift needed to develop storms. Additionally,a strong low-level jet caused a surge of very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and warm temperatures across the south side of the storm expanded these developments. Temperatures were in the 70s°F (low 20s°C) in some areas to the south,while the mercury was below freezing on the north side. The dewpoints were in the 60°F (16°C) range as far north as southeastern Kansas,which provided extra fuel.[5]
The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk of severe storms for February28 across parts of the central Great Plains. The first tornadoes developed early in the evening that day in Kansas as the dry line pushed eastward and was lifted by the cold front.[6] In total,12 tornadoes formed that evening across Kansas and Missouri,11 of which were weak;however,one of these tornadoes was rated an EF4,the first such tornado recorded and the first violent tornado since September22 of the previous year. No one was injured by that storm. Farther south,expected activity in Oklahoma and Arkansas didn't take place as the atmospheric cap held up.[7]
A high risk of severe storms —the first such issuance since April7,2006 —was issued for a large part of the Deep South for March1 as the cold front moved eastward.[8] The activity began almost immediately,with several isolated tornadoes taking place that morning across the Mississippi Valley,one of which caused the outbreak's first death. Isolated tornadoes were also reported as far north as Illinois,near the center of the low;however,the most intense activity began around noon and continued throughout the afternoon and evening,with southern Alabama and southern Georgia being hit the hardest. Nearly continuous supercells formed north of the Gulf of Mexico and produced many tornadoes,some of which hit large population centers with devastating effects. Those tornadoes killed twenty people.[9]
Map of the 14 confirmed tornadoes in central Georgia
The squall line finally overtook the supercells just after midnight on March2,after putting down 37 tornadoes that day. As the squall line overtook the cells,a few tornadoes —all EF0 —took place overnight in Florida and extreme southern Georgia within the squall line,before the severe weather emerged in the Atlantic Ocean that morning.[10] The final tornado was a landfalling waterspout in the Outer Banks of North Carolina late that morning.[11] In addition to the tornadoes,widespread straight-line wind damage from microbursts were also reported,along with scattered large hail,the largest of which were the size of baseballs.[12]
Greater than 40 structures were damaged, mostly minor. Many trees and power lines were downed, and numerous outbuildings were destroyed. A barn was also destroyed, and a few houses suffered major structural damage. Windows were blown out of numerous homes and vehicles, and a large metal horse arena with steel girders and concrete footings was lifted out of the ground and destroyed. A horse and rider were thrown about 100 feet (30m) but were uninjured. Another horse was injured when it had a steel pipe driven through its head. An old railroad car - being used as a shed at that time - was rolled three times and smashed multiple fences.[17]
A large wedge tornado touched down in Anderson County, downing trees and flattening grasses with weak EF0 intensity. It moved into Linn County where a farmhouse was swept away, with only the basement remaining. Several other houses and farm buildings were damaged or destroyed as it passed well north of Blue Mound and Mound City. The occupants of the house that sustained EF4 damage were in a storm cellar at the time and were not injured. Extensive tree and power line damage was reported in Linn County before the tornado lifted north-northeast of Pleasanton. This was the first tornado to be rated EF4 on the newly implemented Enhanced Fujita Scale.[19]
The same storm that produced the EF4 tornado in Linn County, Kansas later produced this tornado. Major damage was reported to one house and minor damage to several other structures. Trees and power lines were downed.[20]
An intermittent tornado destroyed a machine shed, scattering debris up to 300 yards (270m) away. Flying debris damaged another machine shed and the roof of a farmhouse. Farther along the tornado's track, a house sustained slight roof damage, and several tree limbs and pine trees were downed.[22]
The same supercell that produced the previous tornado produced another intermittent tornado that destroyed a machine shed and damaged a pole barn. Debris from the machine shed was scattered up to 0.5 miles (0.80km) away. Several trees were downed, and four cows were killed by flying debris.[23]
This was the third tornado produced by the Monroe County supercell. A metal shed, a pole barn, and a house were damaged before the tornado moved northeast where it downed several trees and damaged numerous structures and automobiles. A house lost parts of its roof and walls, and a mobile home was flipped over. The tornado continued to the northeast where it partially destroyed a shed and completely destroyed a pole barn. Many cedar trees were downed, and another pole barn sustained minor roof and siding damage. The tornado downed more trees and power poles before moving into Shelby County, where it destroyed another pole barn before dissipating.[24]
1 death – Trees and power lines were downed at EF1 intensity in Ozark County; then, the tornado quickly moved into Howell County where it rapidly intensified. As it directly struck the town of Caulfield, it destroyed numerous structures and some farms in the area as well as severely damaging a gas station. A person was killed when their mobile home was destroyed. Four other people reportedly suffered injuries during the same incident, but this was not officially counted.[26]
About 15 to 20 houses suffered minor damage. Many trees were either uprooted or toppled, including one tree that landed on a house and trapped its resident.[28]
1 death – In Wilcox County, this violent wedge tornado touched down near the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir. It heavily damaged or destroyed 40 houses in a recreational and residential area, scattering the debris as far as 2 miles (3.2km) away. Most of these residences were mobile homes, but four houses were also destroyed, two of which were leveled. One man was killed when he was thrown from his mobile home and two others were injured in similar fashion. In addition, several vehicles were tossed around and damaged. The tornado quickly weakened to EF0-EF1 intensity and caused damage to some houses and hunting camps. In Dallas County, the tornado regained EF2 intensity near the Five Points community and damaged 27 houses, two of which were completely destroyed. At least six outbuildings were also damaged, and numerous trees and power lines were either snapped off or uprooted along the path. Winds from this tornado were estimated at 185mph (298km/h), making it the strongest tornado of the outbreak.[32]
A front porch and church's chimney were damaged. Many trees were downed, one of which fell across three vehicles. One person suffered minor injuries when they were blown to the ground.[33]
This long-tracked tornado touched down in Dale County where 24 mobile homes were damaged and five more were destroyed. Four people were injured in one of the mobile homes. The tornado also destroyed 18 chicken houses, killing around 140,000 chickens. Numerous trees and utility poles were downed as well. The tornado's path missed the Ft Rucker, Alabama WSR-88D RDA site by less than 0.25 miles (0.40km) The tornado moved into Henry County, where it caused sporadic tree damage. In the town of Bethlehem, 51 mobile homes were damaged, an additional 28 were destroyed, and two more people were injured in one of these mobile homes. A "semi-truck" was overturned before the tornado entered Otho where the it destroyed 14 houses and damaged 27 others. The tornado weakened as it crossed the state line into Clay County, Georgia near Lake Eufaula where it damaged several more houses and downed more trees with EF0 intensity. It downed a few more trees in Quitman County before lifting.[35]
This tornado struck a neighborhood in the northwest side of Elkton where it blew the roofs off a house, mobile home, and storage facility. A chain-link fence and several trees were downed as well.[36]
A tornado touched down in Lowndes County and quickly intensified to EF2 strength, damaging several structures, downing trees, and injuring four people. As it moved into Montgomery County, it grew wider and started a path of damage and destruction through the rural communities of Davenport, Fleta, Ada, and Sprague. Ten automobiles were significantly damaged, with two people injured when one of those cars was thrown 100 yards (91m) from the road. Five large chicken houses were obliterated near Davenport, and at least 23 barns and outbuildings sustained damage. One high-voltage power transmission line was totally destroyed, and 39 houses were damaged, three of which were destroyed. Fourteen grain silos were also destroyed, with four of them thrown up to 0.5 miles (0.80km) away from where they were anchored. Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted along the path.[37]
Numerous trees were uprooted, and a brick house lost its roof. The storm was initially confirmed as two different tornado tracks but revised as a single tornado following an aerial survey.[39]
A weak but damaging tornado moved directly through downtown Richland. At least 50 houses and businesses suffered varying degrees of damage. A frail wooden commercial building and a church were destroyed. One mobile home was shifted off its foundation, a tractor-trailer was lifted and dropped, and trees and power lines were downed.[40]
Several houses and barns were damaged along the path. One chicken house was destroyed, and two others sustained major damage. Numerous trees were either uprooted or snapped.[42]
Dozens of trees were either uprooted or snapped. Many trees fell on houses and caused significant structural damage. One house had a large portion of its roof lifted off.[43]
1 death – Near the town of Potterville, this large tornado destroyed two mobile homes, damaged others, and caused extensive damage to trees and power lines. One person was killed and four others injured in this area. The tornado weakened as it moved northeastward but still downed trees and caused minor roof damage to several houses in Reynolds.[44]
Several houses and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed along Sandy Point Road, and many trees were downed in Crawford County; in Bibb County, one house was damaged, and several trees and power lines were downed. Nine people reported injuries.[45]
Trees were damaged with EF0 intensity in Russell County before the tornado strengthened to EF1 intensity as it crossed into Lee County; there, at least 25 houses suffered minor shingle, window, or structural damage. Many trees were downed, several of which fell onto houses in multiple neighborhoods. The tornado crossed the Chattahoochee River into Georgia, where it first struck the northwestern section of Columbus; from there, it caused EF2 damage while moving through Green Island Hills, Brookstone, Autumn Ridge, Hamilton Station, and along Old Moon Road. Multiple houses and commercial buildings suffered major damage, windows were blown out of buildings, large air conditioning units were tossed around, and many signs and power poles were downed. A Hawthorn Suites was destroyed from roof and water damage, a Ramada Inn under construction sustained major damage, and a Holiday Inn Express only received minor damage. A bowling alley had its roof torn off, and several churches sustained heavy damage. Hundreds of trees were downed along the track, with a number of them falling onto cars. One person was injured.[48][49]
Many trees were downed, some of which fell onto houses. Several commercial and residential structures suffered varying degrees of damage, and a railroad crossing arm and its support pole were knocked over.[50]
A very brief tornado, that came from the same cell that produced the first Jones County tornado, downed about two dozen trees in less than one minute.[51]
Several houses suffered minor roof damage, and five outbuildings and one mobile home were destroyed. A porch was destroyed at a house, and a feed store and barn were damaged. Numerous trees were downed as well.[53]
In Warren County, a school and several mobile homes were damaged, and another mobile home was destroyed. Eight houses received major damage, 13 were moderately damaged, and 17 others sustained minor damage before the tornado crossed into McDuffie County. After crossing the county line, the tornado moved directly through Thomson, downing numerous trees and power lines; in addition, several vehicles, houses, and a private school sustained moderate or major damage. Three people were injured in Warren County.[54]
A short-lived tornado destroyed several outbuildings and the back porch of a business. It also damaged the porches of several other structures and the roofs of three houses. In addition, numerous trees were downed.[56]
One barn was destroyed, and a mobile home was shifted off its foundation. The roofs of a house and barn were both damaged. Numerous trees and fences were downed.[58]
6 deaths – This long-tracked tornado touched down in Baker County and destroyed a mobile home park just north of Newton; there, six people were killed and three others were injured. A church and 18 houses were destroyed; in addition, ten other houses had minor damage, and nine more had major damage. The tornado crossed into Mitchell County where it destroyed two houses and caused major damage to 25 others as well as minor damage to 26 more. Thirteen businesses sustained minor damage, about 200 acres of pecan trees were uprooted, and a "semi truck" was flipped. The tornado moved into Dougherty County and ripped carports and shingles away from several houses. Two houses sustained major damage, and ten others had minor damage. Hundreds of trees were downed before the tornado crossed into Worth County and moved north of Bridgeboro; there, it uprooted trees and damaged several mobile homes before dissipating.[59]
March 2 event
List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 2, 2007[note 1]
This tornado came from the same supercell that produced the long-tracked Newton EF2 tornado. A brick house lost its roof and some exterior walls collapsed. Two vehicles outside that house were thrown into a nearby field. Many trees were uprooted, one of which fell on another house. The tornado moved northeastward and destroyed another house, injuring two people. Finally, it downed hundreds more trees before dissipating.[60]
A tornado touched down in Tift County and moved northeastward, striking Sunsweet. Seven houses were heavily damaged, and 13 others sustained minor damage. Numerous trees were downed before the tornado entered Turner County where it destroyed a barn and two houses then caused roof damage to several others. In addition, 13 other houses sustained varying degrees of damage. Trees, fences, and an irrigation system were downed before the tornado dissipated.[62]
A house sustained roof and porch damage, and 130 acres of planted pine trees were knocked down, with some of those trees landing on and damaging a vehicle.[65]
Early on the afternoon of Thursday,March1,at 1:08pm CST (19:08 UTC),a destructive tornado first developed near the Enterprise Municipal Airport. The tornado lifted off the ground briefly before returning to the ground as an even stronger storm.[70] It quickly slammed into Enterprise,Alabama,at 1:12pm CST (19:12 UTC). The tornado left severe damage throughout a large section of the city. The most severe damage took place at Enterprise High School,where a section of the school was destroyed during the middle of the school day. Eight students were killed at the school and 50 other people were taken to local hospitals. Some early reports suggested that there had been as many as 15 deaths at Enterprise High School and 18 deaths statewide,which was found to be an over-estimation.[71] It was the first U.S. tornado to cause fatalities at a school since the Grand Isle,Louisiana tornado in 1993,and the deadliest tornado-related school disaster since one inBelvidere,Illinois in 1967.[72] One other death was reported in Enterprise at a nearby private residence when a woman's living room window was shattered by the tornado.[73][74]
At the school,the fatalities resulted from the collapse of a concrete block wall. One hallway completely collapsed,trapping many students in the rubble of the hallway known as 3rd Hall. The tornado at the school was so strong that it tossed and mangled cars in the parking lot,flattened parts of the stadium and tore trees out of the ground. School buses were there for an early dismissal due to the storms at just after 1:00pm,but the tornado hit before the school could be dismissed.[75]
Nearby Hillcrest Elementary School also sustained severe damage from the tornado. After the tornado hit,students from both schools who were not injured were relocated by emergency personnel to Hillcrest Baptist Church,adjacent to the schools and which was not damaged,in order to meet up with shocked parents. Emergency personnel also rushed to the school to send the most seriously injured to local hospitals and provide treatment on the scene to others.[75]
The tornado initially formed in a neighborhood just south of the downtown area;after demolishing a section of the downtown area,it moved on to the schools. The tornado then continued northeast crossing the Holly Hill and Dixie Drive areas. A quarter-mile-wide (400m) swath was devastated,with enormous damage reported to many houses and businesses,some of which were flattened. Several other schools and the local YMCA were among the damaged buildings.[75] According to the Red Cross,239 homes were destroyed,374 sustained major damage,529 sustained minor damage,and 251 homes were affected.[76]
The tornado itself was estimated to have been 500 yards (460m) wide and have had a path length of 10 miles (16km). It dissipated shortly after leaving Enterprise.[74] It was given an initial rating of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.[73] However,after a detailed survey,the tornado was upgraded to a low-end EF4 with winds around 170 miles per hour (270km/h). This upgrade was based on the finding of flattened houses near the school.[77] A total of $307 million in damages were inflicted on the city of Enterprise.
On the evening of March1,Georgia's most significant tornado of the outbreak took place. This tornado began at approximately 9:00pm EST (02:00 UTC),about 6 miles (9.7km) southeast of Weston in Webster County,Georgia. At 9:07pm,it moved into Sumter County,about 5 miles (8.0km) southeast of Dumas. No one was killed there but three people were injured as numerous buildings were damaged. The worst damage in the county occurred on East Centerpoint Road northeast of Chambliss. There,a cinder block house and two machine shops were destroyed,and a 25-foot section of asphalt was scoured from a nearby road. The three injuries occurred in the home,and 5 cows died on a nearby farm. A tractor-trailer near Chambliss was travelling on Highway 520 and was flipped over by the tornado. It caught fire and burned completely. At the intersection of the highway and TV Tower Road nearby,the Georgia Public Televisiontransmission tower was damaged. Two-thirds of it was twisted and only 150 feet (46m) was left standing afterwards. Many trees and power lines were downed in the area.[55]
In Sumter County,the tornado move northeast and,passing by Plains and striking Americus. The worst damage was to the Sumter Regional Hospital;every building there was destroyed,causing $100million in damage to the facility. The buildings included a row of doctors' offices and the Sumter HealthPlex,a newly built 8,000-square-foot (740m2) facility. It went through demolition later in the year and did not reopen until 2011. Extensive damage was done elsewhere in the city. All casualties in the county were in Americus;two people,a 53-year-old man and 43-year-old woman,died in a house when a wall collapsed inside it. The tornado moved right over the downtown area and business district. The Winn-Dixie Supermarket was completely destroyed,and the McDonald's,Wendy's,Zaxby's,Domino's Pizza,and several more local businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado passed right through the National Register Historic District,damaging roughly 250 historical homes,several of which were destroyed. The city's most notable cemetery,the Oak Grove Cemetery,built in 1856,suffered moderate damage. Marble monuments,some 30 feet (9.1m) tall,were smashed,26 wrought-iron fences were toppled,and 104 cedar,magnolia,and oak trees were lost. The historic Rees Park High School sustained moderate damage but was not in use. Americus churches were not spared,as ten of them were damaged,including The Old Shady Grove Church. Parks were badly affected as well. Rees Park lost 25 trees and nearby Myers Park lost 39.[55]
The toll for damage in the county amounted to $110million. A total of 31 residences,42 businesses,one church,and one hospital were destroyed. Another 116 residences,27 businesses,two churches,and three recreation facilities/ parks sustained major damage. Moderate damage was inflicted on 260 residences,60 businesses,five churches,a school,three recreation facilities/ parks,and 2 cemeteries. Minor damage was reported to 586 residences,88 businesses,two churches,a school,a fire station,two recreation facilities/ parks,and a cemetery. A total of 75 structures were destroyed,148 sustained major damage,331 sustained moderate damage,and 681 sustained minor damage (a total of 1,235 structures). Of these,993 were residences,217 were businesses,10 were churches,two were schools,one was a hospital,one was a fire station,eight were recreation facilities/ parks,and three were cemeteries. Two people died in the county and eight others were injured.[55]
At 9:36pm,the tornado entered Macon County about 7 miles (11km) southwest of Oglethorpe,Georgia,but only continued for three miles (4.8km) after that. It lifted at 9:40pm,about 5 miles (8.0km) south-southwest of Oglethorpe.[55]
The tornado was rated as a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. In total,the tornado cut a path up to one mile (1.6km) wide and about 40 miles (64km) long through Webster,Sumter and Macon Counties. Two people died and 11 injured. Total damage was estimated at over $111million,$110 million in Sumter county and $1 million in Webster County. Approximately 1,238 buildings (1,235 in Sumter and 3 in Webster),hundreds of vehicles,and much other property were damaged or destroyed.[55][78]
President Bush talks with the media after walking through the tornado damage at Enterprise High School.
The National Guard was called into Enterprise in the aftermath of the tornado. GovernorBob Riley mobilized about 100 troops and placed more on standby. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on the community after the tornado strike.[85] On the morning of March3,President George W. Bush visited the community and declared Coffee County a disaster area. He went into the school and also took an aerial view of the devastation.[76] The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was also called in to provide additional assistance.
After the tornado,there was an investigation into whether the students should have been dismissed before the tornado struck the school. However,the National Weather Service survey from the office in Tallahassee suggested that the death toll could have been much higher due to the extreme damage in the parking lot and the area nearby.[86] In addition,earlier thunderstorm activity in the area with two other rotating supercells tracking towards Enterprise late that morning (the first tornado warning was issued at 10:41am CST) made evacuating the area unsafe.[87]
In a later service assessment done by the NWS,it was determined that the school had taken the appropriate safety precautions to minimize and prevent potential loss of life with the tornado approaching,and the students were indeed in the safest part of the building. However,it was recommended in the assessment that hardened "safe rooms" with enhanced construction should exist,to prevent future disasters in the event of large and violent tornadoes impacting large buildings. A similar tornado on July13,2004 in Roanoke,Illinois,destroyed an industrial building,yet such rooms were used and no one there was seriously injured.[87]
Enterprise was hit again by a weaker tornado on October 8,2008;however,no one was injured.[88]
↑ "Event Record Details". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
↑ "20070301's Storm Reports". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
1 2 "Event Record Details". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
↑ "Blizzard Hits Region". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
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