An elementary school student is among the dead after an F3 tornado tore through southeast Alabama, killing 23 people, destroying several homes, and leaving debris strewn across roads.
Taylor Thornton, a fourth grade student at Auburn’s Lee-Scott Academy, died as a result of the fast-moving tornado that touched down in Beauregard in Lee County around 2 p.m. local time,WRBL reported. The tornado was at least a half-mile wide as it ripped through the region.
“Our dear friends, Ashley and David Thornton lost their precious daughter, Taylor in that storm,” the friend, Kaitlyn Willing,wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Words don’t even come close to imagining the pain they are enduring. Taylor was an amazing example of a child of God. She brought so much joy to all that knew her. She was loved dearly and will forever be missed.”
GoFundMe
Thornton’s parents reportedlytold WSFAthat Thornton was playing with a friend when the tornado hit. Her friend survived and was being treated at a hospital on Monday,WSFA’s Jennifer Horntonrevealed in a Facebook post.
“She’s shattered over the loss of this precious little girl,” Hornton wrote of Thornton’s mother.
The tornado was part of a severe storm system that caused major damage and produced tornadoes in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, according toThe Weather Channel.
In Lee County — where the deaths included children — authorities dispatched drones with heat-seeking devices to locate any survivors in the wreckage, according to WRBL.
“We’ve still got people being pulled out of rubble,” Lee County Coroner Bill Harristold AL.com on Sunday. “We’re going to be here all night.”
Dozens of emergency responders have joined the search and rescue efforts in Lee County and the coroner’s office had to call in more help to handle the number of bodies found, accordingto the Associated Press.
Although official wind estimates for the tornado are unclear, F3 storms typically pack wind speeds between 158 and 206 mph, the AP reported.
“It appears it stayed on the ground for at least a mile and maybe longer,” Jones told the AP of the storm.
How to help
Community Foundation of East Alabama has set up theLong Term Recovery Fundto accept donations and American Red Cross is offering its services to help peoplefind loved onesmissing in the wake of the storm.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Opekika’s Providence Baptist Church equipped with water, food and counselors.
The Auburn City School District isaccepting all forms of donationsfrom money and bottled water to diapers and air mattresses as officials seek to aid in the recovery efforts.
In the wake of the destruction, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey urged the public toutilize an online databaseto look forloved ones missing in Lee County.
“Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today,”Ivey tweeted earlier. “Praying for their families & everyone whose homes or businesses were affected. Officials from #AlabamaEma & other agencies are quickly working to provide assistance.”
Sunday marked the deadliest day for tornadoes in the country since 2013, according to The Weather Channel.
source: people.com
