We wre spared and blessed

[shipahoy41]

We were spared and blessed this time and narrowly avoided being hit by the big F5 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, Hueytown, Bessemer, Pratt City, Birmingham and countless small towns in between. Wind speeds were around 138 mph. This monster was said to be 1.5 miles wide and stayed on the ground well over three hours. So far 259 confirmed dead in North/Central Alabama. Our city Fairfield, is right in the midst of all these cities. The tornado missed us by less than 5 miles or we would have taken a direct hit on my house. Our area was just without power for four days, so I say we were spared and blessed by Jesus.

Our pastor who lives three miles away in Pratt City totally lost his house and everything. My wife's brother lives in Pleasant Grove and suffered significant damage to his house. Debris from Tuscaloosa (42 miles away) was in our yard. Cars from Tuscaloosa were deposited in some places in Pratt City.

The wife and I were honkered down under a sofa in the family room with football helmets and hard hats on our heads. I have never been so terrified in my life, even when we lived in Kansas where tornadoes were more common. This was a perfect storm and caused major damage in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee before going further north. Keep us all in your prayers as this area of the nation recovers.


Hopefully in a few weeks I can go back to fishing.

[porboy298]

Glad you made it through alright. Our prayers go out to all the people that are going through this. God Bless.

[Don G]

Ship, thankful that you are OK..I talked with Alan Akers(FishermanWantabe) yesterday and they were also Spared....He and his family live in Guin, AL..

[Eager Beaver]

Glad that you came thru this but are saddened by the devistation of the areas around you. Saying prayers for the countless others that lost their lives to this storm system. EB

[snake River]

my prayers go out to you Mike and all the people in the South. There it was a terrible thing that that tornado had to go so far in do so much damage I'm glad that God spared a lot people but titrated to see all those lives lost Godspeed to you Mike and your family. And may God protect you.

[BarryG]

Glad you are OK ship! Big problem down south is NO BASEMENTS! Last week when we had a tornado go thru the St Louis area we were VERY lucky NO deaths and No REAL serious injuries. Several people rode out the storm in their basements and when they came up their house was gone, but nobody hurt. Prayers for all down south!

[jeepguyjames]

good to hear you made it through SHIP......

[Fatman]

Mike

Glad to hear you and your wife are okay!!!!! The aftermath and destruction they show is just unreal. Good thoughts to all those affected.

[skeetbum]

Glad to hear y'all are in good shape. Prayers to those lost and damaged. Go the the Middle Tennessee Crappie Club section and see what the storms did when they continued north. We were all blessed this go around.