Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    'Day You'll Never Forget': Decade After Deadly Tuscaloosa Tornado, Recovery Is Uneven

    April 27, 2011 was one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. More than 300 people died across the Deep South. Some have rebuilt but the recovery shows racial and economic disparities.
    by Debbie Elliott Apr 27, 2021 6 minutes
    Jeanette Barnes displays an image showing the damage done to her apartment 10 years ago during the deadly Tuscaloosa, Ala., tornado.

    On April 27, 2011, one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history struck the Deep South. It was what forecasters call a Super Outbreak with at least 100 major, destructive tornadoes. More than 300 people lost their lives, and the rash of storms caused an estimated $10 billion worth of damage to homes, businesses, and government infrastructure.

    One of the cities hit hardest was Tuscaloosa, Ala. A nearly mile wide tornado cut a path though the town, killing 53 people, and injuring 1200 more.

    "Some people designate this as a disaster," Mayor Walt Maddox said back then. "I think for the 93,000 citizens I represent, we would categorize this as a nightmare."

    Maddox is still mayor and today is helping the community mark the event a decade later. He has overseen a difficult , trying to restore neighborhoods, businesses, and government buildings and get the city back up and running. Maddox says Tuscaloosa

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR3 min read
    Like To Bike? Your Knees Will Thank You And You May Live Longer, Too
    New research shows lifelong bikers have healthier knees, less pain and a longer lifespan, compared to people who've never biked. This adds to the evidence that cycling promotes healthy aging.
    NPR2 min read
    Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, A Hard-liner Who Crushed Dissent, Dies At 63
    Iran's ultraconservative president, killed in a helicopter crash, oversaw a crackdown on women's protests and was linked to extrajudicial killings in the 1980s.
    NPR3 min read
    Taiwan's New President Urges China To Stop Its Military Intimidation
    Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te in his inauguration speech has urged China to stop its military intimidation against the self-governed island Beijing claims as its own territory.

    Related Books & Audiobooks