THE INTERNET — Words fail to fully capture the effects of the tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011. A total of 248 Alabamians died in the storms. But the effects were far greater than the sum of the death toll. Certainly, recollections of James Spann on TV, huge hail, prolonged power outages, and the week-long hum of generators stand out.

However, for many, the most lasting April 27 memory will certainly be that of fear.

The desperation of an oncoming killer tornado is one not soon forgotten. That fear, thicker even than the storm clouds above the state that night, smothered Alabama and its residents, including those of us in Cherokee County. A few weeks ago we asked our 6,300-plus Facebook friends to share their memories of that horrific day.

Storm memories are certainly etched in former Cherokee County School Superintendent Kay Davis's mind. She was not in the direct path of the storm, but both her children were.

“Our oldest son lives in Tuscaloosa. James Spann was showing the tornado approaching and I knew it was headed for University Mall,” Davis said. “Our son is a manager at Belk.”

Davis said just as ABC 33/40 lost the picture from its Tuscaloosa camera, her son called.

“He said, 'Mother, I see the tornado! I love you!' and hung up his cell phone.”
It would be two hours later before Kay and her husband Gary knew their son was safe.

Despite that sigh of relief, the night's anguish wasn't over for the Davises. Kay's other son lives in Rainsville, another town that found itself in the path of the April 27 twisters.

“I heard that a tornado was on the ground in Geraldine [near Rainsville] so I called my son,” Davis said. “He told me, 'I can see the tornado.' Fortunately, the tornado turned away before it came close to his house.”

Carol Bailey of Sand Rock will recall April 27 for more than just the storm. Her family buried her uncle that day.

“It was a very sad day for my whole family,” she said. “We viewed his body under the generator lights because the power had been knocked out. The sky was dark. Debris was being seen in the distance. I'll never, never forget it.”

A few areas in Cherokee County, including the Forney community, sustained significant damage. Even a year later Vicki Acker of Cedartown commented that she is “still cleaning up from it at the farm in Forney!”

Tonya Gowens-Jeffers lives in Cleburne County. She drove into Cherokee County to take her mother a phone.

“I was astonished at the damage,” she said.

Stephanie Dunn, a former Chattooga (Ga.) High School student, shared thoughts about the days-long power outage.

“We didn't have any damage other than the things we lost due to not having power, and my husband not being able to work,” she said. “You never realize how much electricity affects your life until you are without. Thankfully, we had family there to help us out, and the Good Lord watching over us.”

At the time of the storms, Will White lived near Hackleburg. A year ago this week, the town found itself in the path of an EF-5 tornado, the most damaging twister in state history. Will said he didn't have to be in the storm's path to realize its impact.

“I remember standing on my back porch and watching the tornado,” he said. “I can still hear the sound in my head. I remember thinking, 'This is going to be bad'.”