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This week, I'm thinking of home. It's the 10 year anniversary of the April 2011 outbreak, and the 10 year anniversary of the Smithville, MS. EF-5 tornado. Living through this outbreak shaped me into the meteorologist I am today... (thread)
I was up in Aberdeen MS for spring break visiting the house my father bought away from the coast after Hurricane Ivan. My sister and I took our nightly walk around the neighborhood with our elderly neighbor, and right as we were eating ice cream on the porch, sirens started.
My sister and I RAN across the street, back into the house, and told my parents the sirens were going off. As a high school freshman, I had no idea that severe weather was expected, or how historic the events that would transpire would turn out to be.
The next 2 (ish) days were spent in my parents bedroom, mattress on the floor, periodically making our way to the dirt-floor basement for shelter. I remember not sleeping much, clutching my dogs and cats, and hearing the roaring wind multiple times throughout the day and night
We did not change the channel from WTVA for 2 days either. I cannot even imagine what @matt_laubhan experienced working this, but as a teenager after the dust settled, I thought "I hope I'm half the meteorologist this man is one day."
We went without power for a decent amount of time, and Aberdeen was not even hit by a tornado. 20 miles up the road, however, a community was forever changed by an EF5 tornado. This is a common storyline for the 2011 outbreak. So many violent and impactful tornadoes.
I do remember after the last storm passed, walking out onto the porch in the rain, tornado sirens still going in the distance, and staring at the sunset. I thanked God that day for letting us still have a home to shelter us, when so many did not have that.
After this event, I went back to Florida with a new appreciation for the atmosphere and a new drive. To save lives from tornadoes. I was laughed at for saying this goal in the senior video. That's exactly what I did as a broadcaster, and continue to do with the NWS.
I will continue to do my utmost to save lives for the rest of my career, all because of the people in a tiny town in Monroe County, MS.
Remember April 2011. Remember the lives that were forever changed by working or living through the outbreak. Remember the lives cut short.
Remember April 2011. Remember the lives that were forever changed by working or living through the outbreak. Remember the lives cut short.
The memories of this outbreak will forever drive me in this path, and will also drive the many other meteorologists shaped by this event.
Apologies for grammar, spelling, etc in this thread.
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Apologies for grammar, spelling, etc in this thread.
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