Tornado

Brandi Lippincott

More than three tornadoes ripped through the Midville area yesterday afternoon, killing one and injuring at least four. The tornado struck at 3:33 p.m. on Cleveland Street, killing life long resident Evelyn Morrison as she was coming out of The Big Bank Sound Record Shop and getting into her car.

Four people were injured at the Jiffy-Kwik, with two still in the hospital. Anna Patton suffered major injuries after being buried by canned goods that collapsed on top of her. She underwent surgery and is listed in critical condition at Good Hope Hospital. Irving Smalley remains in the hospital overnight due to serious cuts from flying glass. Smalley is listed in good condition.

"That part of Cleveland Street looks like a bomb has been dropped on it," Police Chief Robert Sykes said.

"It's amazing that all this damage was done in less than two minutes. I feel awfully bad about Miss Morrison, but we were lucky that more people weren't hurt." Said Sykes.

Chief Sykes estimates damage at around $150,000.

"It was like the loudest drum roll I ever heard. Then there was sounds of glass breaking and things crashing around you," according to Josh Gibson who was in the record store when the tornado hit.

Juveniles were responsible for looting in the aftermath of the storm. "I just couldn't believe that some people would steal from us after something like this had happened," Chief Sykes said. Several youths were arrested but the names are being withheld.

The unseasonably warm temperatures and humidity, made perfect conditions for creating tornados. At 2:00 p.m. a tornado warning was issued. It was upgraded at 3:00 p.m. to a tornado watch by Lee Harper, the chief meteorologist at the Weather Bureau. South of Midville, funnel clouds were reported as well as damage to livestock and a barn. In Midville, the tornado also damaged Red Cedar's car lot, The Trust National Bank, and several homes.

The Trust National Bank has been going through renovations and was in a temporary mobile home. The mobile home was lifted off its foundation and destroyed. "Thank goodness, the tornado hit when it did. We had closed up about three o'clock,