Crews Ramp up the Search for Lee County Tornado Victims

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/03/IMG_3444.JPG.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:960;s:4:"file";s:25:"2019/03/IMG_3444.JPG.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-336x252.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-771x578.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-768x576.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"IMG_3444.JPG-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-600x338.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-415x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-353x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-600x400.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IMG_3444.JPG-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:37:"The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Miranda Fulmore
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1639101191 
1551704674

The death toll stands at 23 and dozens are missing following the severe tornado that ripped through Lee County and left behind a wake of debris and destruction. At least three children were among the fatalities. It was the deadliest U.S. tornado in almost six years.

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said the path of the tornadoes was almost a mile wide. Survey crews with the National Weather Service were in Lee County Monday to assess the damage from the storms. Officials said the powerful twister carried winds estimated at 170 mph. “It looks like someone almost just took a giant knife and scraped the ground,” Sheriff Jay Jones said.

About 200 law enforcement officials joined in the search Monday to ramp up recovery efforts. They scoured the area for survivors who may have been buried under the rubble. Drones, K-9 units, and helicopters from various state agencies were also being used in the recovery phase.

 

Johnny Washington was asleep when the tornado touched down near his home in Lee County Sunday afternoon. He said his odds of surviving were low; he hid under his bed for protection. “After what I woke up and seen this morning, I’m in shock I’m still here,” he said.

Jones said it would be a difficult day. “I’ve not seen this type of level of destruction ever in my experience here in Lee County, and that covers a span back for at least 50 years,” he told reporters at an early morning briefing Monday. Dozens have been treated for injuries ranging from mild to severe at area hospitals.

All roads have reopened, but access to some remains restricted. He was optimistic the Beauregard community would rebound from the disaster. “This is a very tight-knit community,” Jones said. “These people are tough, they’re resilient people. And it’s knocked them down, but they’ll be back.”

Next door to Washington, Patricia Moore helped her sister clean up her house after winds knocked down multiple pine trees. Some of her family members and friends died in the storm. But Moore said there is some good to come out of the tragedy. “I don’t know I just think God is really trying to get people together, and seeing that that’s what’s going on now just looking around at everybody helping each other,” she said. “It’s amazing.”

At an afternoon news conference, Gov. Kay Ivey thanked Jones for his leadership. “You’ve been the quarterback, and we thank you,” she said.”Y’all we will overcome this loss. We’ve done it before. We’ll do it again. And we’ll do it together.” Jones said he’s received calls from sheriffs all over Alabama offering to help. There’s been an outpouring of support on social media for the tornado victims and their families. Apple CEO Tim Cook, who attended nearby Auburn University, was among them. 

President Donald Trump offered his support, adding that he’s ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to give Alabama “the A Plus treatment” in the rebuilding efforts.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in Monday as well. “In the wake of these deadly tornadoes, federal, state and local authorities must do everything in their power to assist the rescue effort and provide all necessary resources to help those impacted by this disaster now and on the long road to recovery,” she said in a statement.

 

 

Soft medium, hard truths – National Endowment for the Arts recognizes a Navajo quilter

A Navajo woman who has spent 50 years sewing has now been honored with an NEA award for her unique quilts. She is unafraid to criticize the mainstream culture that's marginalized Indigenous artists.

In Lebanon, villagers on the border watch Syria’s revolution with unease

While Syrian refugees in Lebanon return home, many Lebanese remain on edge. Years of conflict have left the Syria-Lebanon borderlands scarred, and fears grow that instability could spill over again.

Bidders are back in court battling over the auction of Alex Jones’ Infowars

A U.S. bankruptcy judge is hearing arguments for and against selling the show to The Onion, the satirical news site named the winning bidder. Host Alex Jones says the auction was rigged.

Police arrest ‘person of interest’ Luigi Mangione in United Healthcare CEO shooting

A man has been arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Supreme Court rejects challenge to Boston’s school admissions policy

The court's action was the second time the justices declined to intervene in an admissions program based on geography since their 2023 ruling invalidating affirmative action in higher education.

Supreme Court rejects challenge to Hawaii gun licensing rules — for now

At issue was a Hawaii State Supreme Court decision that allowed the state to prosecute a man carrying a loaded pistol without a license.

More Environment Coverage