Storms damage homes in county

Part of a tree fell on an Fourth Avenue home around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Wednesday evening’s storms—among the deadliest in the history of the state—caused no injuries in Chilton County but did damage some property, county Emergency Management Agency Director Bill Collum said.

The storm system killed more than 150 in Alabama.

Gov. Robert Bentley and President Barack Obama both declared states of emergency, and about 1,400 members of the Alabama National Guard were mobilized to provide assistance.

In Chilton County, a tree was blown over onto a house on Fourth Avenue North in Clanton, and two mobile homes and a carport were damaged in Verbena.

Tree damage to a home on Fourth Avenue in Clanton.

“It looks like it was a small tornado that came through and maybe just skimmed over the surface, but the National Weather Service would have to confirm or deny that,” Collum said.

Of the three homes that were damaged, two appear to still be livable, Collum said.

Five people were home at the residence in Clanton and moved to a storm shelter in the front yard about 10 minutes before the tree fell onto the roof.

“We would have been dead if hadn’t been in that storm shelter,” said Cathy Causey, who was at the residence during the storms.

Of the 9,300 homes and businesses in Chilton County served by the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, 655 lost power at the peak of the storms Wednesday night, according to Tiffany Trueblood, CAEC communications specialist.

3,900 co-op members lost power, with most outages coming in Coosa and Elmore counties.

Trueblood said all service in the region had been restored by 1 a.m. Thursday.

“We were very, very fortunate that, while we did have some outages, it wasn’t on the scale it could have been,” Trueblood said.

Slightly more than 1,000 Chilton County Alabama Power customers were without power at the storm’s peak.

Statewide, 412,229 Alabama Power customers lost power, the most ever due to a single event. 404,000 lost power during the blizzard of 1993.

Part of the roof was blown off this mobile home off County Road 511 in Verbena.

Collum wanted to remind residents of the county’s five storm shelters:

•Clanton City Hall, 502 2nd Ave. North

•Maplesville, 120 Railroad Street

•Enterprise: 6162 County Road 24, Verbena

•West Chilton: 2678 County Road 42 West, Jemison

•Union Grove: 11638 County Road 51, Jemison

The shelters are opened anytime a tornado watch is issued for the county, and the shelters are manned in the case of a tornado warning.

The shelters are free to the public, but no food is provided and pets aren’t allowed.

SportsPlus

Clanton

The Clanton Advertiser wins 10 awards at annual APA Banquet

Clanton

From Clanton With Praise: Historic hymn inspired by conversation in local hotel

Business

Homegirl Industry requesting public’s help during Hotel Wilson rehabilitation

Business

Grande Opening: Valle Grande opens doors at Clanton restaurant

Clanton

Arts Fest in Chilton County showcases artists for 14th year

Business

Clanton farmer’s market moving to Fridays

Clanton

Board denies parole for Chilton offender

Business

Construction ongoing, approvals incoming for internet upgrades in Clanton after update to council

Billingsley

Primm collects three hits in AHSAA North-South All-Star Game

Clanton

Unemployment rate spikes in Chilton from May to June

Clanton

Hall, American Legion riders roll through Clanton for Legacy Run

Clanton

Chilton Toyz on display in annual car show

News

Jones selected by Royals in sixth round of MLB Draft

Clanton

Parole denied in June for Chilton offender

Clanton

Clements gives State of Schools report; shows improvement in multiple facets

Clanton

United Way Hands On hosting backpack drive for central Alabama students

Clanton

Changes to this year’s Peach Festival welcomed tens of thousands throughout June

Clanton

Fourth annual CAW Back to School Bash upcoming in Clanton

Clanton

Juvenile female killed in train accident in Clanton

Clanton

One-time grant opportunities open for Chilton County nonprofits until July 19

News

Hand leaves Verbena better than she found it, retires as principal

Clanton

Benz’s new book features a dog’s journey to helping dozens of Ukrainian children

Clanton

Scenes from the opening of the Blackwood Brothers exhibit in Clanton

Clanton

CCS providing free breakfast, lunch for all students for 2024-25 school year