Tornado Hits McDavid; 9 Houses Damaged, 7 Homeless (With Photo Gallery)

March 10, 2011

Nine homes were damaged or destroyed as an EF1 tornado hit McDavid Wednesday morning. There were no injuries reported.

Four of the homes were demolished, two had moderate damage, while three suffered minor damage, according to an on-scene emergency command. A total of seven people in three structures were left homeless by the storm.

Three of the homes were Highway 164 just east of Highway 29, and six were on Main Street in McDavid.

FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE SCENE, CLICK HERE.

The first report of the possible tornado came from an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy at Highway 99 and Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill as he observed a possible funnel cloud picking up debris in a field. Minor damage was reported a short distance away, with trees down and a few windows broken at homes on Velor Road and Lambert Bridge Road. Trees were downed along Highway 164 several miles east of Highway 29.

But most of the damage was concentrated in McDavid, along Highway 164 near Highway 29 and on Main Street.

The American Red Cross is working to assist those that were left homeless by the storm.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

34 Responses to “Tornado Hits McDavid; 9 Houses Damaged, 7 Homeless (With Photo Gallery)”

  1. me on March 10th, 2011 9:48 pm

    I don’t think Megan meant it the way you people are taking it. I would never wish for one to hit a house, but I would love to see one in a field or something. They are beauttiful.

  2. BRY on March 10th, 2011 8:15 pm

    Thank God above that you were ok James. I heard about it yesterday, just thought I would tell you if you need anything, let me know. You were blessed to make it through this, it was terrible here in Molino too.

  3. Caring Girl on March 10th, 2011 7:52 pm

    First, I am glad that this storm diddn’t do anymore damage than it has done. And second Megan, little kids may think something like that is fasinating, but if you are a grown woman, and have kids then you wouldn’t want a tornado to hit around you because you would care for your kids!!!!!!!! They are horrible…….. Trust me….

  4. bwayne on March 10th, 2011 5:07 am

    I grew up in “Tornado Alley” where huge destructive storms cut thru areas destroying everything and taking many lives, oftentimes striking at night without any warning. I have seen this type of force pick up a pine straw and drive it thru a tree trunk without breaking the straw……a cow scooped up and deposited unharmed many counties away…..Homes and lives destroyed in an entire neighborhood, skipping over a single structure and leaving it untouched like a lone sentinel in a war zone.
    Tornados are fickle and unpredictable forces of nature that I happily left behind. Yes, we have hurricanes here, but we have ample warnings of their approach and can get to safety. I am so thankful that no lives were lost in this one.

  5. interested reader on March 9th, 2011 6:15 pm

    Been through a tornado in Talladega and I hope I NEVER have to go through another. Thanks for the awesome pictures . God had mercy on everyone today as no serious injuries were reported. Could have been a different story.

  6. justgrateful on March 9th, 2011 6:08 pm

    To all the families that experienced loss this morning, my heart and prayers are going out to you. I was there to see all of the physical damage that this storm created. It truly was a miracle that no one was killed much less even injured during all of this. (Which that is the last information I have heard and hope it is still accurate). I know this community will come together for these families that have lost so much. God bless you all!

  7. Terri Sanders on March 9th, 2011 5:57 pm

    I am with Megan.I saw one out in Missouri years ago.Everytime I see storm chasers I wish I was young enough to go to college and become a storm chaser.I bet our good friend Gary Beeler retired from the National Weather Service would probably say this was a micro burst.We miss your face on the TV Gary.Hope you are enjoying retirement!

  8. jessica on March 9th, 2011 3:53 pm

    venessa and family i am sooo glad yall are ok… and the house made it!!!

  9. Cheri B on March 9th, 2011 3:23 pm

    @Linda Steadham… girl, so glad you are ok!!!!!!

  10. Debbie on March 9th, 2011 3:08 pm

    I’ve been thru one in Tupelo Ms. all I can say Megan you need your head examined..

  11. Crystal on March 9th, 2011 2:58 pm

    I live on Lambert Bridge Rd., it picked up our trampoline , moved it about 50 feet and dropped it upside down. it also tore up our basketball goal and a playhouse. We are so thankful this was all.

  12. Linda Steadham on March 9th, 2011 2:41 pm

    Actually does sound like a train coming thru your home….took out a few trees in back & missed our home by 2oo yards …thank you God! Still shaking….for once was wishing my hubby was still laid off & not working…didn’t want to die alone with my dog babies!!! Our community always pulls together , ie, Ivan, Dennis, etc…& will all be ok…rattled, yeah, but , ok…& Grateful!!!

  13. j on March 9th, 2011 2:25 pm

    I hope everything works out for them. It was tiring sitting in school facing the wall with nothing to support your back for about 30 or 40 min.

  14. RACHEL SNOW on March 9th, 2011 1:46 pm

    IF ANYONE KNOWS THE DRIVERS WILL U LET ME KNOW IF THERE OK

  15. Jim W on March 9th, 2011 1:36 pm

    Thank God no one lost a life in this ordeal. This is for Megan, I know you have stated your fasinated by these things and you probably always will. But, when you are in the middle of one there is nothing fasinationg about it. It is grab or crawl under what vere you cand and hold on for dear life. It is very ugly I have been in a couple of them in my life and I for one do not like thiem. Careful what you wish for.

  16. Savanna Calhoun on March 9th, 2011 1:25 pm

    I hope the people in the homes are ok!

  17. JoshBaker on March 9th, 2011 1:20 pm

    Thanks God

  18. RACHEL SNOW on March 9th, 2011 12:59 pm

    I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

  19. jen on March 9th, 2011 12:58 pm

    Thank God Kelly that you and yours are safe. Just seeing this instantly brings back memories of a night in upstate New York 12 years ago. Ask anyone in Western/Central New York or Long Island what “the Labor Day Storm” is, and they
    will be able to relate. One of the tornadoes literally hit 2 houses west of ours, skipped over three houses, then dropped down out of the clouds and took out another house. I called my kids downstairs and we stood in the kitchen, a foot from the basement door, unwilling to “over-react” by going down into the cellar in the middle of the night because “tornadoes just didn’t happen in our area.” Please be safe out there, and if you see rough weather coming, get to the basement, storm cellar or hallway =)

  20. Lauren on March 9th, 2011 12:46 pm

    It is something that you will never ever forget. Yes the train sounds just like its coming thru your house. When I was 12 years old us kids were home with my Mother. Mother noticed the wind was picking up and had us kids come and sit with her on the couch where she wrapped her loving arms around us and we waited and we prayed and I screamed so loud they could hear me across the street. The tornado knocked 2 chimneys into the roof and thanks to the support beams in the attic they didnt fall down thru the ceiling and hit us. God Is Good

  21. EWC on March 9th, 2011 12:32 pm

    Anymore photos from McDavid? My grandparents old home place is on main street. Thank you.

  22. citizen g on March 9th, 2011 12:19 pm

    beware of junk haulers. i have ripped off a bunch……

  23. kelly on March 9th, 2011 11:54 am

    that is my house n i tell u i thank god for all three kids that were with me r ok

  24. me on March 9th, 2011 11:45 am

    omg!!!! any more pics??? I think we were lucky this time. I hope and pray everyone is safe

  25. atmore on March 9th, 2011 11:35 am

    Thank goodness no one was hurt. Take care people, and be safe!!

  26. Clinton Curly Brooks on March 9th, 2011 11:14 am

    Thank God and thanks this news service.

  27. Fan on March 9th, 2011 10:06 am

    If you do see one go to safety and fall on your knnees and start praying.

  28. danielsgirl on March 9th, 2011 9:58 am

    They may be fascinating forms of Mother Nature, but trust me, if you were ever in one you would probably change your mind. I had always wanted to see one until I was in one and that was enough. It’s very scary and the destruction is like no other. One thing can be completely destroyed in the blink of an eye while something next to it is untouched. The best way to see one is from far far away and hopefully it would be in a field nowhere near any structures or people it could harm. At least with hurricanes we have time to prepare and know they are coming, with a tornado you have just a matter of seconds. They are fascinating forms of nature, but words can’t describe what it’s like to be caught in one. (been there done that in an F3 and once was enough) Thank God it appears nobody was injured in the Walnut Hill area.

  29. WORRIED RESIDENT on March 9th, 2011 9:55 am

    When I’ve seen them on TV, that was enough for me! I was later than usual dropping the kids off at school and had to drive through SOMETHING, which was almost too much for me! I prayed the whole time I was coming home!! Thank GOD I made it!

  30. EMD on March 9th, 2011 9:53 am

    Megan, I promise they will fascinate you even more, if you are ever outdoors in the midst of one, and no one can get the door open. I hope you know The Lord, if you ever find yourself in that situation. I am not jesting.

  31. Horrific! on March 9th, 2011 9:53 am

    Megan Believe me YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE ONE.
    There is nothing exciting about them.

  32. girl on March 9th, 2011 9:48 am

    Soooooo scared of tornados. Never been in one but def don’t want to be.

  33. Tea on March 9th, 2011 9:39 am

    NEVER want to see one……let Megan have it

  34. Megan on March 9th, 2011 9:29 am

    I want to see one! I have never seen one and they have always fasinated me.