April 27, 2011, will go down as one of the worst tornado outbreaks to hit the state. Sixty-two tornadoes touched down across Alabama that day, many rated EF-4 or EF-5, the two highest levels possible on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Although the death toll varies, one estimate puts the number killed statewide during the storms related to the Super Outbreak of 2011 around 250. Those that survived being injured had months of physical therapy ahead of them while others became permanently disabled.

I remember that stormy day a decade ago like it was yesterday. A non-profit I was volunteering with at the time, Asperger Connection, had a fundraiser planned the following evening at Papa Murphy's Pizza locations across the Huntsville area. With all of Madison County without power, the initially scheduled fundraiser got postponed. Even though the restaurant did not call, my mom and I knew there would be no fundraiser that night after hearing the extent of the damage.

Although I'm uncomfortable with last-minute changes in schedules, I understood that this was a large-scale emergency that involved an imposed curfew by the local government.  Most everyone in north Alabama had their plans disrupted after the tornadoes tore a path of destruction through the region.

I have heard and read from meteorologists critiquing that a tornado outbreak as severe as the one that hit that day occurs in Alabama roughly every 40 years. Even though there will still be the potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in Alabama, the chances of a repeat of the same severity and coverage as of April 27, 2011, is low.

The second thing to remember is no two severe weather episodes are alike. On that particular day, the right type and amount of atmospheric conditions converged over the South at precisely the right time. Most events, like the one that hit our area last weekend, are on the lower end. Next time there is a chance of thunderstorms in our area, I recommend going to the Storm Prediction Center's website to get an idea of how bad thunderstorms will be. That particular government agency's job is to issue severe thunderstorms and tornado watches.

The third thing to remember is that a severe weather event does not have to be on the scale of April 27 for it to be memorable for one particular location. For example, the devastating Airport Road tornado of November 15, 1989, that hit Huntsville during rush hour was the only violent tornado in the South that particular day. Most in north Alabama only saw some wind and hail.

A year after April 27, a social skills group I was part of at the time took a tour of the local National Weather Service office. It was a very informative trip as many parents, and young adults asked the meteorologists on duty general weather questions and more information about the 2011 Outbreak. I recommend that schools, religious organizations, businesses, and social skills groups take a guided tour of the local National Weather Service office once the pandemic is over to learn more about how watches, warnings, and forecasts are created and how each organization can properly adapt to severe weather. To visit the National Weather Service in Huntsville’s website, click here.

The lessons and the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors after that horrible day should not be forgotten by everyone, regardless of disability or socioeconomic status. It would not be far-fetched to say that every person in north Alabama was impacted by the event either directly or indirectly.

Those are my memories from that event. Share yours in the comment section below.