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November 24, 2001 · Blount, Etowah County · 2001
EF4

November 24, 2001

1:19 PM
Blount, Etowah County, Alabama · Near Oneonta (ZIP 35121)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
22
Path Length
10.1 mi
Max Width
500 yd
DateNovember 24, 2001
Time1:19 PM
CountyBlountEtowah
CityOneonta
Property Loss$1.13M
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 5273369
NWS Birmingham

2.9 SE Oneonta-1.0 N Altoona Numerous homes and mobile homes were destroyed along with extensive tree damage. The damage occurred from near the Mt Carmel Church to Altoona. Start: 33.9200/-86.4300 End:  34.0300/-86.3000

NWS EF Scale: F4

Episode Narrative

The F4 tornado first touched down in the vicinity of the Mt. Carmel Church, south of US 231 on CR 29, where several trees were snapped off. The tornado tracked northeast and produced extensive F2-type damage to homes and trailer homes along Tidwell Road where several injuries occurred. All trees in the neighborhood were snapped mid-trunk. As the tornado crossed US 231, it completely destroyed a frame house with F4 magnitude damage. Large trees around the house were uprooted and snapped at mid-trunk. From there, the tornado continued moving northeast and produced it's worst, F4 magnitude damage, between Robbins Lake and Airport Road. Large trees were completely snapped off at ground level; two tandem-wheel dump trucks were overturned, and moved or rolled 30 yards; several storage containers filled with construction supplies and equipment were rolled up to 50 yards; a large bulldozer was moved 5 feet; a large pole-barn building was completely obliterated.The tornado continued northeast across Robbins Field, then across an unpopulated area, until it entered western Etowah County in the town of Altoona. One church was also destroyed. The tornado affected the south and east sections of Altoona. The tornado descended a steep hill and downed an entire stand of pine trees at mid-trunk. Several homes and trailer-homes were damaged or destroyed, including a well-constructed $250,000 home which was completely destroyed, the third occurrence of F4 magnitude damage. The tornado crossed SR 132, ascending a steep hill, and dissipated. At it's widest point, the tornado was approximately one-quarter mile wide. Debris was scattered several miles past the end of the tornado track. Beg: 33 55.619/86 25.749 End: 34 02.107/86 18.754

Outbreak Context

Part of 34-tornado outbreak on November 24, 2001

EF3Pickens, Lamar, Fayette, Walker County2 fatalView →EF0Hale CountyView →EF2Marion, Winston CountyView →EF1Tuscaloosa CountyView →EF0Choctaw CountyView →EF2Lawrence, Morgan CountyView →EF0Hale CountyView →EF0Choctaw CountyView →EF0Tuscaloosa CountyView →EF0Marengo CountyView →EF1Cullman CountyView →EF0Choctaw CountyView →EF0Cullman CountyView →EF2Jefferson, St. Clair CountyView →EF2Marshall CountyView →EF2Madison CountyView →EF2DeKalb CountyView →EF2Cherokee County2 fatalView →EF2St. Clair CountyView →EF2Talladega CountyView →EF1Autauga CountyView →EF2Talladega CountyView →EF1Calhoun CountyView →EF0Conecuh CountyView →EF0Butler CountyView →EF1Clay, Randolph CountyView →EF1Butler CountyView →EF0Butler CountyView →EF0Escambia CountyView →EF0Covington CountyView →EF0Covington CountyView →EF0Pike CountyView →EF1Pike CountyView →
Shared Episode Narrative

The F4 tornado first touched down in the vicinity of the Mt. Carmel Church, south of US 231 on CR 29, where several trees were snapped off. The tornado tracked northeast and produced extensive F2-type damage to homes and trailer homes along Tidwell Road where several injuries occurred. All trees in the neighborhood were snapped mid-trunk. As the tornado crossed US 231, it completely destroyed a frame house with F4 magnitude damage. Large trees around the house were uprooted and snapped at mid-trunk. From there, the tornado continued moving northeast and produced it's worst, F4 magnitude damage, between Robbins Lake and Airport Road. Large trees were completely snapped off at ground level; two tandem-wheel dump trucks were overturned, and moved or rolled 30 yards; several storage containers filled with construction supplies and equipment were rolled up to 50 yards; a large bulldozer was moved 5 feet; a large pole-barn building was completely obliterated.The tornado continued northeast across Robbins Field, then across an unpopulated area, until it entered western Etowah County in the town of Altoona. One church was also destroyed. The tornado affected the south and east sections of Altoona. The tornado descended a steep hill and downed an entire stand of pine trees at mid-trunk. Several homes and trailer-homes were damaged or destroyed, including a well-constructed $250,000 home which was completely destroyed, the third occurrence of F4 magnitude damage. The tornado crossed SR 132, ascending a steep hill, and dissipated. At it's widest point, the tornado was approximately one-quarter mile wide. Debris was scattered several miles past the end of the tornado track. Beg: 33 55.619/86 25.749 End: 34 02.107/86 18.754

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 5273369

See Also

10.1 mi500 yd wide