The Devastating Aftermath of a Catastrophic Tornado in Mississippi

Since the decision to open community shelters is made at the local or county level, shelter availability varied widely across the region this past weekend. These decisions also occasionally clashed with public health department recommendations. For example, the Alabama Department of Public Health's officials warned that people were more likely to be impacted by a tornado than the COVID-19 virus so they should seek shelter, but they also noted that many public shelters might stay closed in the midst of the pandemic, so locals should "check with their community shelter managers" to make sure one nearby was open. This caused confusion, and since residents were understandably concerned about exposing themselves to the virus, it may have impacted people's decisions about what to do.

In Soso, Mississippi, Gail Smith, her husband, and 95-year-old grandmother decided to stay home and shelter in their hallway. They ended up needing to be rescued by their neighbors.

The Smith family was impacted by one of the more deadly tornadoes that hit southern Mississippi on Sunday. It first touched down only about 28 minutes before another one did nearby. Both were "long-track" tornadoes, which traveled quite a distance northeast, forging almost parallel paths. According to the National Weather Service, the slightly more northern tornado traveled approximately 82.6 miles; the southern one traveled 67.8 miles. The latter was later rated an EF-4 tornado by the NWS.

Jonathan Erdman, Senior Meteorologist for Weather.com, noted that these long-track tornadoes are not something you see everyday. "The average tornado is only on the ground for less than 10 minutes and for maybe a mile or two," he said. A longer tornado track means more opportunity for destruction. This can clearly be seen on the satellite imagery of the scar the EF-4 tornado left behind. On the ground, the damage was visceral and overwhelming.

However, at the same time, she saw neighbors coming together to help each other sort through the destruction. Many of them wore masks, and maintained social distancing. Disaster relief workers set up stations where they offered water bottles and supplies. Utility companies set up signs to remind people to stay six feet apart. Members of the Cajun Navy helped move large tree debris off people's yards. Even during this unprecedented time when resources are already spread so thin, people were still finding ways to be supportive when devastation occurred.

We're now heading into the most active months for tornadoes in the U.S. and more severe storm outbreaks like this one will likely occur. As a result, it's a good time to decide how and where you're going to take shelter if you need to. Individual community decisions on public shelters will continue to evolve as the pandemic spreads across the nation. If public shelters are your only option, make sure to keep checking with your local officials for updates on which ones will be available. If you can shelter in your home, that is the CDC's recommendation. If your home is unsafe, consider checking with a neighbor who has a basement or shelter, and formulate a joint sheltering plan that incorporates pandemic precautions.

"Do not let the virus prevent you from seeking refuge from a tornado," the American Meteorological Society declared in a statement issued on April 9th, 2020. If you have a plan in place ahead of time, it should help you make decisions quickly when it counts.