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Tornado Valley: Huntsville's Havoc
Touchdown! Folks in Alabama don't know whether to cheer or run when hearing the expression. Touchdown could mean that we've just won another football National Championship or it could indicate that a tornado is on the ground. I could never be a storm chaser. I'm the one the storm chases. Funnels circle around me like shark fins as I bow my head in a school hallway, kneel down in a convent, or give birth to a newborn baby wailing in unison with the tornado sirens. I huddle with toddlers in showers and beg for shelter in a McDonald's freezer. I remain a sitting duck in a second-floor apartment, and find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time while in the emergency room with storm victims.
Life in the Rocket City is a thrill ride which is not for the faint of heart, this I know. So brace yourself for a front row seat on a ride through Tornado Valley! Alabama is the home of the world's deadliest twisters, and Huntsville is in the heart of the arena. Our space history is out of this world, but our tornado history will blow you away. Take a rollercoaster ride through the history of Alabama tornadoes before plunging into the gripping story of the Day of Devastation. Witness the stars falling on Alabama in 1833. Then get ready for the sky to fall! The plot twists as Huntsville's torrid tornado past comes alive in the 1974 Super Tornado Outbreak. The rollercoaster corkscrews as it encounters an unexpected twister in 1989 that slingshots the reader into the angry vortex on Airport Road. The ride cruises before taking another gut-wrenching dive that catapults its riders into an inverted twist from yet another Anderson Hills tornado in 1995. The town turns upside-down but Huntsville survives, revives, and thrives. But the worst is yet to come.
Another tornado season is just around the corner. Beware of the month of April, especially on a Wednesday. The warning sirens wail, we're bombarded by softball-sized hail, and an EF3 tornado slams into the jail. It's just another day in Alabama, but the countdown clock is ticking. The next tornado warning could be "the one." Our voice drops to a whisper when we mention an EF5. We realize life is too short. The coaster accelerates. Here comes the torque. We have no idea what's around the next bend. Suddenly, the nightmare comes true as the ride zooms out of control, this time in a free-fall on April 27, 2011. Alabama is bombarded by a record 62 tornadoes in one day. Abruptly, the ride comes to a screeching halt. The adrenaline rush subsides. You've just experienced Huntsville's Havoc. Immediately the passengers ask one another, "Do you want to ride again?" Some will and some swear, never again.
Life in the Rocket City is a thrill ride which is not for the faint of heart, this I know. So brace yourself for a front row seat on a ride through Tornado Valley! Alabama is the home of the world's deadliest twisters, and Huntsville is in the heart of the arena. Our space history is out of this world, but our tornado history will blow you away. Take a rollercoaster ride through the history of Alabama tornadoes before plunging into the gripping story of the Day of Devastation. Witness the stars falling on Alabama in 1833. Then get ready for the sky to fall! The plot twists as Huntsville's torrid tornado past comes alive in the 1974 Super Tornado Outbreak. The rollercoaster corkscrews as it encounters an unexpected twister in 1989 that slingshots the reader into the angry vortex on Airport Road. The ride cruises before taking another gut-wrenching dive that catapults its riders into an inverted twist from yet another Anderson Hills tornado in 1995. The town turns upside-down but Huntsville survives, revives, and thrives. But the worst is yet to come.
Another tornado season is just around the corner. Beware of the month of April, especially on a Wednesday. The warning sirens wail, we're bombarded by softball-sized hail, and an EF3 tornado slams into the jail. It's just another day in Alabama, but the countdown clock is ticking. The next tornado warning could be "the one." Our voice drops to a whisper when we mention an EF5. We realize life is too short. The coaster accelerates. Here comes the torque. We have no idea what's around the next bend. Suddenly, the nightmare comes true as the ride zooms out of control, this time in a free-fall on April 27, 2011. Alabama is bombarded by a record 62 tornadoes in one day. Abruptly, the ride comes to a screeching halt. The adrenaline rush subsides. You've just experienced Huntsville's Havoc. Immediately the passengers ask one another, "Do you want to ride again?" Some will and some swear, never again.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
188 pages, Paperback
First published December 23, 2012
25 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 25, 2013
I am one of those GRITS like she mentions in the book, I was born and raised in Huntsville and her descriptions of the events really takes you back to that time period. I love her stories, especially when she derails on a tangent, it makes it so fun to go back to a simpler time when kids were just kids without all the video games, tv shows, etc.
The area is still recovering from the "Day of Devastation" and probably will for quite some time. The trees are still stunted and twisted when you drive through the areas, several houses are just abandoned with no windows and falling apart where people didn't have insurance and were too poor to rebuild. It's truly heartbreaking to see. The rest of the world moves on (and sometimes we do too) but driving through those areas you really realize that it changed everything for those people who were run over by a tornado.
Great book, enjoyed reading it!
The area is still recovering from the "Day of Devastation" and probably will for quite some time. The trees are still stunted and twisted when you drive through the areas, several houses are just abandoned with no windows and falling apart where people didn't have insurance and were too poor to rebuild. It's truly heartbreaking to see. The rest of the world moves on (and sometimes we do too) but driving through those areas you really realize that it changed everything for those people who were run over by a tornado.
Great book, enjoyed reading it!
September 18, 2014
I enjoyed the way the book was written, the personal stories. I, too, live in Alabama and will never forget that day and night. Four days with no electricity is all we had to deal with but we also had friends who needed help with clean-up. Lots of kindly acts of service were seen for weeks afterward.
October 5, 2015
A witty and humorous writer, even while writing about the chaos and heartbreak endured by so many through the awful tornado outbreaks in Alabama. I would love for her to write some fiction. I'm sure it would be brilliant!
February 3, 2015
Touching
This is an amazing story of the good bad and ugly a tornado can bring. I have been through a few tornados here in Ohio.
This is an amazing story of the good bad and ugly a tornado can bring. I have been through a few tornados here in Ohio.
July 14, 2019
*I was given this book as a gift, likely because they thought I would find it interesting since I was in Tuscaloosa during the April 27 tornadoes, but I don’t remember by whom*
I’m only giving this book 3* because I, too, live in Alabama and could relate to her southern references and have my own stories about Alabama tornadoes. However, my ability to relate to parts of her book does not overcome the fact that the writing was subpar. There were far too many side-stories and ramblings; maybe 25% of the book dealt with tornadoes at all. In addition, nearly every sentence contained some kind of pun or quippy language in effort to be entertaining, but it came across as forced and repetitive. The first and last chapters of the book contained personal stories of people who lived through the tornadoes, which is what I was looking for, I just wish the rest of the book had been composed of similar content.
I’m only giving this book 3* because I, too, live in Alabama and could relate to her southern references and have my own stories about Alabama tornadoes. However, my ability to relate to parts of her book does not overcome the fact that the writing was subpar. There were far too many side-stories and ramblings; maybe 25% of the book dealt with tornadoes at all. In addition, nearly every sentence contained some kind of pun or quippy language in effort to be entertaining, but it came across as forced and repetitive. The first and last chapters of the book contained personal stories of people who lived through the tornadoes, which is what I was looking for, I just wish the rest of the book had been composed of similar content.
June 29, 2021
Huntsville Tornado Story
The author did an excellent job of highlighting the storm history of northern Alabama. The book contains not only the authors insight into weather events in that area, but human interest stories and peculiarities that occur with these storms and culture patterns of the area. It was a good read, but if you are a hard core weather geek, you may not find all that you expect in this work. But the author made a good effort, and enlightened me that there are two tornado seasons in the gulf region which is tougher to deal with than where I reside in the traditionally considered “tornado alley” of the Midwest. Especially when you factor in the hurricane season in the south.
The author did an excellent job of highlighting the storm history of northern Alabama. The book contains not only the authors insight into weather events in that area, but human interest stories and peculiarities that occur with these storms and culture patterns of the area. It was a good read, but if you are a hard core weather geek, you may not find all that you expect in this work. But the author made a good effort, and enlightened me that there are two tornado seasons in the gulf region which is tougher to deal with than where I reside in the traditionally considered “tornado alley” of the Midwest. Especially when you factor in the hurricane season in the south.
July 21, 2024
Descriptive mixed with a touch of humor
This book gripped me from the first sentence! As kept reading, the author used great and amusing similes which while describing the carnage and bad luck are in Alabama, her light-hearted humor makes it easier to understand what disaster victims do when they have been considered a near miss but still have the desire to help others. Thus blend made me giggle when a giggle is needed and seriousness when describing the rollercoaster of emotions that each victim experiences. When it rains, it pours but when you live in Alabama, when it crashes and burns, you rebuild or move on. She is right about one thing, each person who survived is blessed because they are Alice to tell their story to be the inspiration for the rest of us!
This book gripped me from the first sentence! As kept reading, the author used great and amusing similes which while describing the carnage and bad luck are in Alabama, her light-hearted humor makes it easier to understand what disaster victims do when they have been considered a near miss but still have the desire to help others. Thus blend made me giggle when a giggle is needed and seriousness when describing the rollercoaster of emotions that each victim experiences. When it rains, it pours but when you live in Alabama, when it crashes and burns, you rebuild or move on. She is right about one thing, each person who survived is blessed because they are Alice to tell their story to be the inspiration for the rest of us!
January 15, 2019
Another memoir/tornado account, which seem to be a thing now.
The author meanders hither and yon, which can trip up the pace, but her wit makes up for most of it.
I admire her resolve, her love of home and the courage to stay put: statistics wise, Huntsville has a big ol' tornado-bullseye on it, she's well aware of this and is all good with it.
More power to her.
May her future springs be peaceful and kind to her, her gardens and her neighbors.
The author meanders hither and yon, which can trip up the pace, but her wit makes up for most of it.
I admire her resolve, her love of home and the courage to stay put: statistics wise, Huntsville has a big ol' tornado-bullseye on it, she's well aware of this and is all good with it.
More power to her.
May her future springs be peaceful and kind to her, her gardens and her neighbors.
September 13, 2017
Really interesting memoir of tornadoes hitting Huntsville. Great tornado history.
July 29, 2021
Hard to flow. Confusing as to which tornado was which. Interesting read tho on how bad AL is with tornadoes. Dont think i could live in that area.
August 11, 2016
2.5 stars
The main reason I didn't get on with this book is that it wasn't clear what it was meant to be. The title suggested it was the story of Huntsville, but there were a number of Shelly-specific flashbacks to her life and growing up, making it more like a memoir that focuses on tornadoes and other natural disasters in Alabama.
The other reason comes down to editing: it feels disjointed because of the disparity between the Huntsville/Alabama stories and those which are just Shelly's life. It begins with the short urgency of stories during the tornado, then moved abruptly to a long section about Shelly's life, throwing the pacing off entirely. There were too many cutesy phrases trying to be clever but which just seemed twee rather than funny. (On a personal note, a few things grated because she suggested some things were Huntsville-specific but they really apply to Alabama as a whole. See the "Either this... or that" list on p60 for an example. Those sweeping generalizations really irked me.)
It does show some of the good decisions - and bad ones - that people made during the tornadoes, the effects they had, and how planning can help. It includes some shocking statistics about the number of tornadoes and the damage they cause, along with stories of families spared, debris scattered, and possessions found hundreds of miles away. It shows how communities from all over the state, the Southeast and the U.S. came together during the relief effort to offer whatever they could, and confesses the guilt that non-affected people felt, the guilt of being lucky.
So all in all, if you want to know more about Alabama and the April 2011 tornadoes do pick this up, but be aware that it is self-published and contains many flaws that a good publisher and editor would have fixed.
The main reason I didn't get on with this book is that it wasn't clear what it was meant to be. The title suggested it was the story of Huntsville, but there were a number of Shelly-specific flashbacks to her life and growing up, making it more like a memoir that focuses on tornadoes and other natural disasters in Alabama.
The other reason comes down to editing: it feels disjointed because of the disparity between the Huntsville/Alabama stories and those which are just Shelly's life. It begins with the short urgency of stories during the tornado, then moved abruptly to a long section about Shelly's life, throwing the pacing off entirely. There were too many cutesy phrases trying to be clever but which just seemed twee rather than funny. (On a personal note, a few things grated because she suggested some things were Huntsville-specific but they really apply to Alabama as a whole. See the "Either this... or that" list on p60 for an example. Those sweeping generalizations really irked me.)
It does show some of the good decisions - and bad ones - that people made during the tornadoes, the effects they had, and how planning can help. It includes some shocking statistics about the number of tornadoes and the damage they cause, along with stories of families spared, debris scattered, and possessions found hundreds of miles away. It shows how communities from all over the state, the Southeast and the U.S. came together during the relief effort to offer whatever they could, and confesses the guilt that non-affected people felt, the guilt of being lucky.
So all in all, if you want to know more about Alabama and the April 2011 tornadoes do pick this up, but be aware that it is self-published and contains many flaws that a good publisher and editor would have fixed.
December 10, 2013
Life in the Rocket City is a thrill ride which is not for the faint of heart, this I know. So brace yourself for a front row seat on a ride through Tornado Valley!
Alabama is the home of the world's deadliest twisters, and Huntsville, Alabama is in the heart of the arena.
Since I live in Iowa we are familiar with Tornados, and the Tornado warnings and sirens. I've run next door to my neighbors and their basement quite a few times, since I moved to this area almost 16 years ago. I remember 11:00 pm, one night my husband woke me up after the sirens went off and we headed to the neighbors house, they opened the door and said, "head for the basement" which of course we did. But, everything turned out alright, just some rain and wind.
I found this book interesting and awarded it 3 falling stars. This book was also a free book from Amazon and is a part of my Kindle library.
Alabama is the home of the world's deadliest twisters, and Huntsville, Alabama is in the heart of the arena.
Since I live in Iowa we are familiar with Tornados, and the Tornado warnings and sirens. I've run next door to my neighbors and their basement quite a few times, since I moved to this area almost 16 years ago. I remember 11:00 pm, one night my husband woke me up after the sirens went off and we headed to the neighbors house, they opened the door and said, "head for the basement" which of course we did. But, everything turned out alright, just some rain and wind.
I found this book interesting and awarded it 3 falling stars. This book was also a free book from Amazon and is a part of my Kindle library.
January 18, 2014
I always thought "Stars Fell on Ålabama" was just a popular song. The author uses the event (a remarkable meteor shower) which occurred in 1833 as a metaphor for the series of tornados that have plagued Huntsville in more recent times. While not officially part of what is known as Tornado Alley, Huntsville has had several F4 tornados and as part of a cluster of tornados has had two F5 tornados in the same day.
Ms. Miller writes from personal experience having lived through these weather phenomena.
Ms. Miller writes from personal experience having lived through these weather phenomena.
August 3, 2019
While the writing wasn't stellar, the author does a good job of getting across the power and devastation of tornadoes and particularly those tornadoes that have affected the people of Huntsville, Alabama.
July 20, 2014
Book was okay. Author is very humorous most of the book but middle half of book could have been pared down.
June 23, 2014
A harrowing account of a major tornado outbreak.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews