Five people are confirmed dead in the Calhoun County town of Ohatchee as Alabama undergoes an enormous bout of severe weather, including tornadoes that have touched down in various locations from the Black Belt across the Birmingham area and into Northern Alabama.
The Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency published a release at 4:26 p.m. confirming “multiple reports of injuries and fatalities.”
A number of reporters from television stations in Birmingham have reported that the current number of confirmed casualties is five.
Dangerous storms remain active in several locations in Alabama as of 4:43 p.m. Citizens are encouraged to turn on local radio stations and TV channels for up to the minute coverage.
If encountering downed power lines or dangerous debris, members of the public are encouraged to turn around let authorities deal with the situation.
Ohatchee, currently the only town with confirmed fatalities from the weather, is a small town of around 1,100 people located northwest of Anniston.
Significant tornado damage has been reported in a number of Shelby County cities as a result of an as yet uncounted number of tornadoes.
A family reunification location has been established in the parking lot of Baumhower's at 1001 Doug Baker BLVD STE 112, Birmingham, AL 35242 for the Eagle Point Subdivision. If you need assistance in locating family members from this area, please speak with law enforcement here.
— Shelby County SO (@ShelbyCountySO) March 25, 2021
Road-closing levels of floods have been reported from areas around Birmingham up through Alabama’s border with Tennessee.
Authorities are urging citizens “Turn around, don’t drown,” when they see water over the roads.
A police officer in Florence was struck by lightning during the storms but is now reportedly “awake and alert.”
As follows, reports of the damage from across Alabama:
Check out these drone pics from Travis D. Gipson.
This is an aerial view of the tornado damage in Eagle Point. @WBRCnews pic.twitter.com/1EXC1pClsA
— ChristinaChambers (@ChristinaChamb) March 25, 2021
NEW: There is heavy storm damage in Hoover’s Greystone Farms community. One person was transported with minor injuries. Multiple homes damaged and a few destroyed pic.twitter.com/Kt8Vk9qfV9
— carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 25, 2021
Tornado damage Hwy 280 near Eagle Point pic.twitter.com/bj4t5rOD7T
— WBRC Steve Crocker (@wbrc6steve) March 25, 2021
Damage on Chandalar Lane in Pelham. Neighbors tell me thankfully no one hurt! @WBRCnews pic.twitter.com/ICk2r46JhT
— Catherine Patterson (@CatherineWBRC) March 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/lauchlan_s/status/1375094286539186176
This terrifying video was taken at Griffin Park at Eagle Point near Lee Branch and US-280. –> https://t.co/rfXDGIvRHe (Source: Matt Williams) pic.twitter.com/LNlh3fucvz
— WBRC 6 News (@WBRCnews) March 25, 2021
NEW from @Fox6Kelvin: Damage along Mt Carmel Drive in West Blocton, Bibb County pic.twitter.com/ZoTtLshbWJ
— Morgan Hightower (@mchightower) March 25, 2021
Additional storms are starting to fire to our west in MS, and skies are starting to clear out across the TN Valley. Like we have been emphasizing, this event is not over. We still have several more hours to go. https://t.co/BeWmuAebgK
— NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) March 25, 2021
The State of Alabama’s extreme weather preparedness resources can be found here.
“Significant and dangerous weather continues to impact portions of Alabama, and I urge all folks in the path of these tornadoes and storm systems to remain on high alert. Tragically, we are receiving reports of loss of life,” said Governor Kay Ivey in a statement shortly after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.
“I offer my sincerest prayers to all impacted. Unfortunately, the day is not over yet. Y’all, please stay safe and vigilant!” the governor exhorted.
UPDATE 5:34 p.m.
This draft was updated to reflect the casualty count in Ohatchee increasing from three to five.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
