Stories from the April 16, 1998 Tornado

As I approached the corner of 1st Street and Woodland in my car, the radio announcer said "take cover, a tornado is directly over downtown Nashville". The hail was pounding all around. I looked up and there it was.... the hook with the blue sky directly in the middle surrounded by blackness. This is a sight of nature few would ever experience. My car was being rocked by the wind and with no ditch in sight, I hit the ground next to a chain link fence covered my head with yellow insulation from the stadium construction sight and waited. Sheets of metal along with lumber swirled over me and wrapped around the utility poles. The tornado lifted St. Anne's church at 5th and Woodland a few seconds later.

When I felt a calmness, I stood only to be blown back to the ground by a second wind force. As I reflect, I know I was in serious shock because in the midst of the storm, I remained in total quietness. For the year that followed, the sounds woke me in many dreams.

I had to walk home because of trees and electrical wires in the streets. My home was standing with broken windows, missing storm windows, a side porch taken by trees, a chimney through the roof, water damage, etc. but my family was safe. A day to reflect as I remember the importance of a tornado warning reminding me to take cover and stay out of a car.



Read More Stories