1953 — Apr 18, tornadoes & windstorm, AR (1 death), AL (7), GA (1) — 9

–14 National Weather Service, WFO Birmingham AL. Alabama Tornado Database.
–6 Lee-Russell F3 tornado, 17:00
–8 Shelby County F3 tornado, 17:00
— 9 United Press. “Tornadoes Rip South; 7 Killed In State.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-19-1953, p.1.
–1 Waldenburg AR
–3 Smith’s Station, AL
–2 Auburn, AL
–1 Phenix City, AL
–1 Gentry’s Gap, AL
–1 Columbus, GA

Alabama (7)
— 7 Associated Press. “No Storm Aid Will Be Asked.” The Decatur Daily, AL. 4-21-1953, p. 3.
–5 Smith Station, Lee County, (women)
— 7 Associated Press. “State’s Storm Toll Reaches 7.” The Decatur Daily, AL. 4-20-1953, p. 1.
–5 Smith Station, Lee County
–1 Smith Station, Lee County. Female, 80.
–4 Smith Station, Lee County. Women; no age or specific cause of death noted.
–2 Wilsonville. Lena McCloud, 60, and granddaughter Rugy Sheppard, 10.
— 7 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 968.
— 7 United Press. “Tornadoes Rip South; 7 Killed In State.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-19-1953, p.1.

Narrative Information
Grazulis: “AL APR 18, 1953 1800 5k 195inj 400y f30m F3. “LEE/RUSSELL—This is the- only official listed tornado in a series of complex and damaging windstorms that moved E and SE across the entire state of Alabama. About 50 homes were destroyed across Lee County. The most costly damage was the $1,000,000 loss in the north part of Auburn. Four people died in frail homes at Smiths and one died at the north edge of Phenix City. Alabama losses totaled $5,000,000. The event ended with a $20,000,000 downburst at Columbus, Georgia. The most likely other tornadoes were responsible for heavy industrial damage at Siluria, and two deaths at Wilsonville, both in Shelby County.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 968.)

National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL, Tornado Database:

“1953…4 [April]…18…17:00,,,Lee-Russell [counties] Continued into Georgia…F3…6 (8) [killed] [The parenthesis around “8” apparently means that eight deaths were originally reported and later revised down to 6]…Near Loachapoka – Phenix City. At least 50 homes were destroyed, 4 people died near Smiths in a small home. One person died near Phenix City.

“1953…4 [April]…1700…Shelby [County]…F3….8 [killed]….Siluria (Alabaster). A large tornado moved through central Shelby County. Specific information on the tornado path was estimated from damage description. The tornado destroyed the Buck Creek Cotton Mill in Siluria. Numerous homes were destroyed and many trees were mowed down. Damage was extensive.” (National Weather Service Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL. Alabama Tornado Database. NWS/NOAA. Accessed 1-4-2009.)

National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL: “This was described as the most severe economic blow in Shelby County history. The Buck Creek Cotton Mill sustained damage in excess of $3 million. All of the 159 company-owned houses in Siluria suffered varying degrees of damage, with at least 15 of them a total loss. There were miraculously no deaths in Siluria from the storm, although a number of Silurians passed away months and years later from other causes probably aggravated by their injuries. Siluria’s tornado that day was only one of several severe windstorms and tornadoes that swept west to east across central Alabama, leaving an estimated 6 dead, hundreds injured, 185 homes destroyed and 950 damaged. After the tornado, an estimated 600 to 800 workers were out of jobs for up to a year. Two people were reportedly killed in Shelby County as a result of the tornado. Red Cross set up offices in Columbiana to assist the storm victims. Other towns that reported damage from the tornado included Alabaster, Genery’s Gap, Byersville, Longview, Joiner Town, Cates Crossing and Kingdom.” (NWS WFO Birmingham AL. The Shelby County Tornado – April 18)

Newspaper

April 19, UP: “Columbus, Ga., April 19 (U.P.) – At least nine persons were killed and scores injured today when a series of savage tornadoes, one bearing 100-mile-an-hour winds, struck in Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia. The latest twister, a vicious storm that demolished a new brick church building, whipped through three Alabama towns and then side-swiped this teeming military base city [Columbus, GA].

“Officials estimated damage will reach several million dollars, much of it in this Georgia city which borders Alabama. Weathermen said the same tornado first dipped down on Auburn, Phenix City and Smith’s Station in Alabama before crossing the Chattahoochee River and slamming into Columbus.

“Hospitals were overflowing with injured here and police said other persons hurt by the tornado may still be trapped in the debris. Fifty persons were hospitalized in Columbus alone late tonight and authorities feared the injury total may rise to 100 or more…..

“The dead from the tornado sweep over the three Southern states included one in Waldenburg, Ark., one in Columbus, three in Smith’s Station, Ala., two in Auburn, one in Phenix City and one in Gentry’s Gap, Ala.

“Names were not available late tonight on all the victims. Levonne Antley, 17, a Columbus girl, died when she was pinned underneath falling trees. Mrs. Maudie Nevels was killed in Phenix City, across the river from Columbus.

“Most of the fatalities apparently occurred from falling debris, police said. A call was issued tonight for out-of-town doctors to come help treat injured in Columbus. In Auburn, the injured were treated by candlelight as power failed.

“Other tornadoes of lesser ferocity hit at least four other rural Alabama towns. One of the twisters wrecked a cotton mill at Siluria, 28 miles south of Birmingham, and destroyed or damaged some 30 houses….

“The vicious winds ripped roofs off homes and felled power poles, communications lines, and trees. One Georgia Highway was blocked by trees that were toppled onto the pavement by a tornado.

“Information on the tornado effect in Columbus and Auburn was skimpy because of communications difficulties. Telephone lines were out to Auburn and only emergency calls were being taken to and out of Columbus late tonight….” (United Press. “Tornadoes Rip South; 7 Killed In State. Storms Batter Alabama Areas. Twisters Lash Auburn, Gentry’s Gap, Smith’s Station And Phenix City.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-19-1953, p. 1.)

April 20, AP: “By The Associated Press. The baby tornadoes that dipped destructively through Alabama Saturday left an aftermath of seven women killed, 127 persons injured and damage estimated by Gov. Gordon Persons up to $5 million.

“An 80-year-old woman, the only white person on the fatality list, was killed at tiny Smith Station in Lee County, where the death-dealing twister struck most savagely. Four Negro women also died there. ‘It hit lower there than at any other point in Alabama,’ said Gov. Persons after a Sunday motor tour of tornado-torn state areas. He said the fierce winds at Siluria and Auburn fortunately never dipped down to more than 20 feet above the ground ‘but it went through lower Lee County at 10 feet and just took everything with it.’

“….the storms…cut straight across the state. The winds dipped down with battering ram force at intervals and left shattered homes and dazed inhabitants at Siluria, Wilsonville, Mount Zion, Auburn, Smith Station, Phenix City and several other communities….

“The Buck Creek Cotton Mill, Siluria’s only industry, was knocked out, threatening some 400 to 500 with unemployment for at least five months until damage is repaired….Forty-five persons were injured, 15 seriously. Seven homes were ripped apart and 22 others badly battered. Two Red Cross nurses were sent to the small Shelby County town along with national guard troops from Birmingham to lend emergency help. Gov. Persons also ordered prisoners from Kilby Prison at Montgomery to help clear away the storm damage.

“….Two storm victims were killed at nearby Wilsonville. They were Lena McCloud, 60-year-old woman, and her 10-year-old granddaughter, Ruby Sheppard. Bob Strickland, Talladega ambulance driver who went to get the bodies, said it took two hours to travel a single mile through the jumble of telephone poles, trees and debris tossed across roads by the mighty winds.

“The tornado hedge-hopped into Auburn, barely by-passing the Alabama Polytechnic Institute campus, but cutting a semi-circular swath up to a thousand feet wide in places – an unusually broad path for winds of this type….

“Fifteen persons were injured in the Auburn blow…The Red Cross listed 568 homes damaged, 49 of them destroyed…..

“Smith Station, where five women died, was almost literally blown away by the terrific wind.” (Associated Press. “State’s Storm Toll Reaches 7.” The Decatur Daily, AL. 4-20-1953, p. 1-2.)

Sources

Associated Press. “No Storm Aid Will Be Asked.” The Decatur Daily, AL. 4-21-1953, p. 3. Accessed 5-19-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/decatur-daily-apr-21-1953-p-3/

Associated Press. “State’s Storm Toll Reaches 7.” The Decatur Daily, AL. 4-20-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-19-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/decatur-daily-apr-20-1953-p-1/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

National Weather Service Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL. Alabama Tornado Database. NWS/NOAA. Accessed 1-4-2009 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/tornadoes/mainlist2.php
Also 5-18-2023 at: https://www.weather.gov/bmx/tornadodb_1953

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Birmingham AL. The Shelby County Tornado – April 18, 1953. 1/4/2009 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/significant_events/1953/04_18/index.php

United Press. “Tornadoes Rip South; 7 Killed In State. Storms Batter Alabama Areas. Twisters Lash Auburn, Gentry’s Gap, Smith’s Station And Phenix City.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-19-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-19-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/anniston-star-apr-19-1953-p-1/