Surviving Alabama's Deadliest Tornado

0:00One woman in Alabama stared down the most powerful tornado and state history and lived to tell about it. Back in the spring of 2010, an EF-5 Twister ripped through Phil Campbell with winds over 200 miles per hour, leveling homes and towns. Crystal Nolan stepped out into a sunny afternoon. No clue it was barreling her way. Family called with a heads up about the storm hitting nearby Bear Creek. And seconds later, she spotted the massive funnel cloud closing in. No time for the shelter. She bolted inside, locked the door and hunkered down in the bathtub, praying hard as the house lifted off its foundation. The destruction was unreal. Her home flipped and shattered midair, sucking her right into the vortex with flying debris everywhere. Winds tossed her around before dropping her, somehow she clawed her way to a storm shelter and passed out. Neighbors rushed her to a hospital in Russellville where the scene hit hard kids with severe injuries blood everywhere from the chaos. After six days, she pulled through with scars on her forehead, glass in her leg, and panic attacks that linger when storms brew.

1:06Meteorologist still marvel at her grit amid the devastation that claimed 23 lives that day. Nolan calls it a miracle. Proof her story ain't over yet. Local news, powered by AI. This is Birmingham News Today. I'm Corey with the story.