Ten years after the worst tornadoes in Alabama history, more must be done to strengthen our houses
By Brian Hastings and Roy Wright
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Ten years ago today - on April 27, 2011 - Alabama suffered the largest and costliest tornado outbreak in state history. Of the 62 tornadoes that touched down in Alabama that day, eight were EF4s and three were EF5s, the most powerful possible rating. One EF4 traveled from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, measuring more than 25 football fields wide and whipping winds at 190 mph, and ultimately left 64 dead and more than 1,000 injured. All told, the day’s tornadoes cost 240 lives statewide and more than 100 others across the South.
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Today’s anniversary is an important opportunity to admit a difficult truth: Over the last decade, Alabama has not done enough to protect against tornadoes.
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Whatever we do, we should do it now. Ten years after we lost 240 lives, Alabamians continue to be killed by tornadoes. Not every home destroyed or life lost is preventable, but many are—and we must resolve to prevent every one we can. Because one thing is for certain: more tornadoes are coming.
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