Clean up continues from last week’s EF-2 tornado that hit parts of Madison

MADISON – The city of Madison dodged a bullet last week. Even though some neighborhoods sustained damages caused by an EF-2 tornado that came through Tuesday night, city leaders agree it could have been a lot worse.

“Local weather stations gave us plenty of warning, and while we sustained damage, it could have been so much worse,” Madison Mayor Paul Finley said the day after the tornado struck.

“Neighbors immediately helped neighbors, and it hasn’t slowed one bit,” he said. “Our public works team and Commissioner Haraway’s District 2 team made a quick dent in debris removal. Deep breath, continued prayers for all impacted, and so proud of our community.”

Crews worked last week at McDermott’s Way and Wall Triana to clean up storm debris. In the Browns Ferry Crossing neighborhood, there were piles of debris in front of almost every home.

One home that suffered severe damage has had repairmen outside for hours working on the damage caused by the storms.

Carrington Bye lives right across the street from the damaged home on Nobleman Lane in Madison.
“All of a sudden, you just hear the wind going, and like trees cracking and like our ear pressure changed,” Bye told WAFF News. “I was like, oh my gosh, this has got to be like right there. Two-three minutes later, we came out and it was destroyed, and our poor neighbors, they got hit worse than us.”

The owner told WAFF no one was hurt, but there’s a lot that needs to be done.

On McDermott Lane, just down the road from Browns Ferry Crossing, there were trees on homes, trees on cars, and severe damage and debris.

The Madison County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) has mobilized to support recovery efforts.

County residents who need help cleaning up storm damage caused by the recent storms are encouraged to call the Crisis Cleanup hotline at 256-207-5832.

By calling the hotline, residents will be connected with local volunteers from relief organizations, community groups and faith-based organizations who may be able to assist with:
• Tree and debris removal
• Tarping damaged roofs
• Muck-out services
• Other cleanup efforts

“All across Madison County, people are facing the aftermath of this severe weather,” Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Birdwell said. “Our VOAD partners are stepping up, as they always do, to provide support. If you need help, call the hotline. And if you’re able to help, now is the time to volunteer.”

All services provided through Crisis Cleanup are free of charge, but not guaranteed, as availability depends on volunteer resources and the level of need in the community.

The Crisis Cleanup hotline will remain open through Friday, June 6.

Huntsville Utilities, with the assistance of outside crews, worked to make repairs to the electric systems for days after the storm hit.

Frequent lightning, high winds, and tornadoes on Tuesday evening left Madison County with extensive damage to utility equipment and service lines. Along with parts of Madison, the greatest damage areas included Gurley, in and around the Killingsworth Cove community, Gillespie Road, Monte Sano, parts of downtown Huntsville and along Dug Hill Road.