Tornado Destroys Areas In North Jefferson County Killing At Least One
This is a developing story. It was last updated January 27, 2021 at 11:35 a.m.
At least one person is dead after a tornado tore through the Fultondale area Monday night.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the 14-year-old as Elliott Hernandez, of Fultondale.
Hernandez was discovered by first responders in the basement of a single-family residence that collapsed during the storm. Several other family members were critically injured, according to authorities.
Hernandez was a 9th grader and attended Jefferson County Schools, according to school officials.
Officials believe everyone is accounted for after Monday night’s tornado, according to Fultondale Fire Chief Justin McKenzie during a press conference Wednesday morning.
The City of Fultondale has been hit by a possible tornado. Multiple injuries have been reported, multiple structures…
Posted by Fultondale Fire Department on Tuesday, January 26, 2021
The “large and extremely dangerous tornado” struck the suburban area north of Birmingham at about 10:44 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham. The Center Point and Clay areas were also impacted.
The storm was upgraded Tuesday night to an EF-3 tornado with peak winds around 150 miles per hour, according to the NWS. In a preliminary survey, the weather service said the tornado was “at least a High-End E2.”
At least 18 people have been hospitalized and 11 others were treated on the scene, according to Fultondale Fire Chief Justin McKenzie.
“Sadly here in Fultondale, we’re very experienced in this sort of thing,” said McKenzie.
This area was hit hard in the April 2011 tornado outbreak.
“It’s very tough to go and see them sitting on their front porch and the look on their face because most of them are still in shock,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight at a press conference Tuesday morning. “These people need help out here.”
Fultondale police officials are still responding to calls and surveying the damage. Some homes and businesses were destroyed. There were overturned cars, downed trees and lots of debris.
We will be working for secondary search and rescue starting at 7a this morning. Please stay clear of the area while…
Posted by Fultondale Fire Department on Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Nearby schools closed Monday because of extensive damage, according to Jefferson County Schools.
Those schools include Fultondale High, Fultondale Elementary, Center Point High, Erwin Middle, Erwin Intermediate, Center Point Elementary, Clay-Chalkville High, Clay-Chalkville Middle, Bryant Park Elementary, Chalkville Elementary, and Clay Elementary.
“It was a blessing that it happened at night and not during the day because I do believe that if we’d had people in the building, we’d possibly have some fatalities,” said Jefferson County Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin. “We saw the roof ripped back. We saw some air conditioning units just sucked out of the building. We saw a lot of glass, windows busted out.”
“This is literally down the street from where I live,” said resident Dachy Beauvais on social media. “It’s an eerie sound like no other. Tornado sounds like a freight train coming full speed.”
Gigi Douban, Janae Pierre, Andrew Yeager and Priska Neely contributed to this story.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Fear of Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz could further slow the flow of oil
Attacks by Iran have already nearly halted the flow of oil through the vital waterway as commercial ship crews fear being hit by missiles, drones or mines.
Bruno Mars adds yet another milestone to his career with ‘The Romantic’
Bruno Mars is the most-listened to artist in the world on Spotify. He's won 16 Grammys. In case you thought there were no battles left for him to win, this week he unlocked another achievement.
There’s more than one path to a confessional song
On new albums by viral sensation Yebba and studio whiz Pimmie, it's clear modern R&B has been clearing space for vastly different stripes of singer-songwriter.
Suspect in attack at Michigan synagogue is dead, officials say
Security officers at Temple Israel had "engaged the threat" that apparently started with a vehicle ramming into the building, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
This tale of a Chicago school book ban was inspired by true events
Librarian Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel tells a fictionalized account of real-life events in 2013 that restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools.
