EF-1 tornado confirmed in Union Grove, 100-year-old oak tree downed in storms

UNION GROVE, Ala. (WAFF) - The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado ripped through portions of Marshall County during the storms on May 20th.

Winds over 100 miles per hour were recorded in the area of Allens Cross Road in Union Grove.

That’s where WAFF 48 found David Black’s home with a massive oak tree down in his front yard. Black told WAFF 48’s Savannah Sapp that the tree was more than 100-years-old.

He recalled what he heard Tuesday night, and said he was inside listening to the rain and thunder when he thought he just heard his smaller trees falling.

“I heard the pecan tree at the corner of the deck when it went down, and I said ‘Oh lord, I know what that is’,” Black said.

When he stepped out of his home, the 100-year-old oak tree his grandfather planted generations ago was taken down with the others.

“He brought it back when he was a little boy and planted this tree right where it is, and it just grew and has been there forever. We all were raised under this tree,” Black said.

Black says he and his siblings spent many days and nights beneath the tree.

“This is a big part of history down. I mean there’s not a lot of things standing that’s over 100-years-old,” said Black.

The storms also wreaked havoc by knocking down his pecan trees that were roughly 30 years old.

One of his trucks, and his boats unfortunately, were crushed by the falling branches and limbs, but his home and his garden of peach trees and muscadine vines were spared.

“I’ve always said God has a hedge of protection over me and this property, and this has proved it to be true,” Black said.

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