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Lacey's Spring still cleaning up one week after tornado hits

By Elizabeth Gentle - bio | email
Posted by Dana Franks - email

LACEY'S SPRING, AL (WAFF) - Families spent the past week cleaning up after a tornado touched down in Morgan County just over a week ago. For those residents, the threat of severe weather has a whole new meaning.

One week ago, an EF-1 tornado formed in one sod field south of Lower Dry Creek Road in Morgan County. The cell picked up strength, crossed Kay Road and touched down at Sherbrook Mobile Home Park in Lacey's Spring.

"It came out of nowhere," said Sherbrook resident Jeremy Rader.

"When it came through, there was a huge gust of wind, and it just shot shot shot and you just saw stuff flying from all angles," said Sherbrook resident Cloudy Buchanan.

Mobile homes gutted by fallen trees still sit empty at the Sherbrook Mobile Home Park, while some homes that were damaged have been repaired.

One mobile home was crushed into pieces by falling trees. It still looks much the same, but a child's coloring book pictures all that's left hanging on the walls.

Yards once littered with lmbs, insulation and debris have been cleaned up. However, the memories of that stormy Friday have yet to be forgotten.

"It's an enlightening experience. It's not something you take for granted," said Lacey's Springs resident Larry Cothran.

Cothran lost two big trees.

"Pushed over, 11-foot root system in the air," said Cothran.

His mobile home suffered only minor damage. Cothran wasn't hurt when the storm blew through. He took the weather warnings seriously when they were issued.

"I heard the siren go off, and my dad gave me a quick call," said Cothran.

Cothran said he's lucky. But he said he feels bad for his neighbors who lost everything.

The Sherbrook Mobile Home park will take months to recover, but Cothran said he's just glad no lives were lost.

Insurance adjusters have spent most of the week estimating how much it will take to replace or repair property.