Submitted by Elliott H. Jones, Crenshaw County Emergency Management Agency director

With November bringing in the new tornado season, our County had its first round of severe weather damages on Nov. 30. On the 29th, a line of storms moving toward our area spawned multiple tornadoes and straight-line winds, causing damage from Texas to Mississippi. We started tracking these storms and watching scattered storms developing ahead of the line that afternoon into the early evening. Around 11 pm, the NWS in Mobile initiated a tornado watch due to the deterioration of the atmosphere in our area. Throughout the night, multiple tornadoes touched down throughout the State, including one in Montgomery County that caused two fatalities. Our County faired well throughout the night until a storm cell that we had been tracking, which produced multiple tornado warnings throughout Mississippi and West Alabama, entered the west side of our County around 5 am. This storm cell produced 60+mph winds causing 18 locations throughout the County with fallen trees blocking the roadways, downed power lines, multiple power outages, and one structural damage. Emergency responders were quick to respond to and recover from these damages, with very few obstacles left for motorists to contend with as the morning progressed. Our County had no injuries, accidents, or fatalities reported from the weather event.

We must remain weather-alert and weather-ready, especially during tornado season here in the south, which starts in November and runs through May. If any of our citizens would like tips or guidance on better preparation, they are always welcome to stop by the office located at 118 East 3rd St., reach out to us on social media, or call us at 334-335-4538 or 334-508-2434.