A Tornado Has Basically Destroyed Almost Every Building In Rolling Fork MS

On Friday afternoon, a tornado tore into rural Mississippi towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City, destroying homes. Travelling northeast at 70 mph (113 kph), it continued its path toward Alabama through Winona and Amory into the night.

The National Weather Service classified the storm an EF-4 tornado, with top wind gusts up to 166 mph (265 kph). It caused destruction to approximately 100 houses and barns, as well as damage to hundreds more.

Seventh Street

Rolling Fork, Mississippi's second smallest town with just under 2,000 residents, seems untouched by a tornado until one suddenly sweeps through it. It's hard to imagine such devastation wreaking havoc on this idyllic haven - yet that was exactly what occurred.

Tornadoes moved northeast at 70 mph, without slowing down as they passed through Silver City and Rolling Fork, Alabama. As it crossed over state lines into Alabama, several buildings were destroyed and at least 25 people died from its effects.

In Rolling Fork, the tornado tore through the courthouse, killing three and damaging several homes. It also blew over a garbage can and destroyed Dollar General store.

Though Rolling Fork may appear small, it's actually quite diverse and home to numerous industries. For instance, it serves as a major trucking hub for Mississippi's lumber industry.

It's the site of a small town hospital and elementary school, as well as being the hub of commerce with several hotels, shopping malls, gas stations and post offices.

When the tornado approached, Larry Mazoch and his family took refuge in their hallway with their German shepherd as it closed in. To keep everyone safe inside, they held the doors closed to keep out any potential harm from entering their home.

He described how strong the winds were and it seemed unlikely they'd make it out alive. Thankfully, they did and he is now safe and sound.

Mary Womble, another resident on Seventh Street, took her daughter and pets into the bathtub as the tornado approached. With them safely inside, she looked out the window to see nothing but a giant tree perched atop her home.

She didn't observe her neighbor's home either, though she thought she saw them getting up from the bathroom and going outside; however, when she looked closer she couldn't make out anyone outside.

The tornado then moved along Seventh Street and into Windy Terrace neighborhood, producing widespread destruction to multiple homes with many roofs stripped. It crossed Dell Way into Greenlawn Place before weakening slightly before crossing Gattis School Road and lifting. At this point it was classified as an EF-1 tornado.

The Courthouse

On Friday night, a tornado tore through Rolling Fork, MS leaving houses destroyed and entire blocks flattened. It stayed on the ground for an hour as it left its path of destruction through this Mississippi Delta town. Residents hunkered down in bathtubs and hallways during its impact; later they broke into a John Deere store to use as a triage center for those injured.

According to the National Weather Service, at least 25 people died in Missouri and Alabama from this storm system. Additionally, towns in Kansas and Missouri experienced destruction as a result of it as well.

Wonder Bolden, who lives in Rolling Fork and lost her mother's mobile home to the tornado on Friday night, spent most of Saturday rummaging through the rubble. She and her friends searched for coins they'd hidden away before their mothers' house was destroyed, as well as belongings belonging to their late father who passed away 25 years ago.

Her family had hoped to find something in the rubble, but all that could be found were debris and broken windows. For hours, she and others searched through the wreckage, searching for survivors.

Local officials were asking for donations and Forward Church was offering free food to those affected by the tornado. Additionally, The American Red Cross and other organizations were providing supplies to victims.

Eldridge Walker, the city's mayor, told CNN the tornado had been a "monumental disaster" that would require days to clean up and rebuild. He noted how particularly hard it hit his predominantly Black and poor community due to the severity of the event.

He noted the storm had pushed houses to the ground, leaving families homeless and making it harder for people to access water or gas. Firefighters in the city could not predict where or what would come next, but some were able to deliver fuel and water supplies to families whose homes had been destroyed.

Tornadoes in downtown Phoenix were particularly devastating, passing directly over the county Justice Center and adjacent administrative building which houses courts, 911 services, and many government functions. There was extensive roof and window damage as well as some interior wind-and-water damage at these facilities.

Brewer’s Boat Trailer

On Saturday morning, a woman whose mobile home in Rolling Fork was destroyed by a tornado said the damage was extensive. Though she tried to salvage some belongings from the rubble, she ultimately had no choice but to leave because she was homeless.

According to her, the tornado had destroyed "almost every building" in town, including the courthouse and church. It flattened buildings, toppled water towers, turned cars on their sides and tore apart power lines as well, according to the National Weather Service.

On Friday afternoon, residents of Silver City, Mississippi's rural Mississippi Delta town hunkered down in bath tubs and hallways before breaking into a John Deere store to use as a triage center for injured. Royce Steed - emergency manager for Humphreys County where Silver City lies - likened the destruction to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Tornadoes can be devastating; when one struck the area it was an EF-2 with winds estimated at 110 mph. It caused destruction to windows and roofs, uprooted trees, and forced cars off the road.

Wonder Bolden was walking her 10-year-old daughter, Journey, along Sink Lake Road near Valley Mobile Home Park when they witnessed her mom's mobile home crumble into a heap of rubble. It is an incredible miracle that her mom managed to escape unharmed.

"It was an incredibly frightening experience," she recalled. As she turned back to view their home, with its roof gone and all its windows blown out, all that remained were two walls: what had once been home.

After some time had passed, she went to check on her mother. The tornado had lifted their mobile home off its foundation and moved it about 25 feet. They managed to find safety in their garage, though visibility was severely limited due to all the debris.

When she returned, the mobile home had been torn to pieces and covered in splinters and dust.

According to her husband Jim, the tornado also destroyed a fence at their mobile home park. Now they are rebuilding their home from scratch.

The tornado that tore through the area was a supercell, an intense thunderstorm capable of producing deadly tornadoes and destructive hail. After crossing Interstate 55 in central Mississippi, it weakened slightly but remained powerful when it reached Attala and Choctaw counties. Finally, as it passed Oktibbeha County, it again weakened before dissipating. Regardless, its path left behind much destruction as one of Mississippi's most destructive tornadoes ever struck the state.

Mary Womble’s Home

Late Friday evening, a tornado that ripped through Mississippi left behind a trail of death and destruction in its wake, taking at least 25 lives there and one in Alabama. The storm flattened buildings, turned cars on their sides, and ignited a major fire in a small town.

Storms that raged for an hour left a path of destruction over 170 miles long, culminating in Rolling Fork - county seat and home to nearly 1,900 residents - particularly hard-hit. Homes were reduced to piles of rubble, cars flipped on their sides and even the water tower that once stood atop the town was uprooted from its foundations.

In the southern city of Silver City, residents were scrambling for shelter from the storm and rescue those in need. A fire truck drove through town searching for survivors while firefighters huddled in bath tubs to avoid being caught in its fury.

Mary Womble and her husband Nathan's home was among the many things destroyed by the tornado, including its roof. A large tree fell into their house, knocking it to pieces but leaving only a hole in its roof.

The tornado also brought down a towering oak tree, nearly the size of two-story home - which the National Weather Service says is Mississippi's tallest ever fallen tree. Other trees in the city were snapped off their branches like twigs and left scattered everywhere.