Hurricane Fay proved to be one weather system that refused to go away quietly as the remnants of the hurricane blew back through Alabama most of Monday.Sirens sounded several times throughout the area because of the high threat of tornadoes spinning out of the huge storm system.
St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Ellen Haynes said there were downed trees around Springville on Monday, but it is unclear whether a small tornado or straight-line winds caused it.
“We had reports of trees down off (Alabama) Hwy. 23 and (U.S.) Hwy. 11 in the Springville area,” Haynes said. “We had a tornado warning for that area, and we sounded sirens in the north part of the county.”
The storm quickly moved off to Blount County, Haynes said.
Haynes said there were reports of minor flooding in low-lying areas of St. Clair County over the weekend, but the drought conditions helped to soak up much of the moisture.
St. Clair County was estimated to have received between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain on Monday by the mid afternoon. With rain forecasted to continue into Tuesday, Haynes warned flooding could become a problem.
“Don’t cross a road covered in water, even if it is only a few inches of water” Haynes warned. “Even with the drought, heavy, torrential rains can still cause flooding.”
Steve Dover, public information officer with the Talladega County EMA, said there were no major damage reports associated with the weekend storms.
“We didn’t have damage today or yesterday,” Dover said. “Coosa Street in Talladega had some minor flooding on Saturday but no damage with it.”
Area schools had an interesting morning with shuffling students into a safe part of the building when a tornado warning siren sounded.
Talladega City School System Superintendent Dr. Joanne Horton said students were moved into the hall when placed under a tornado warning.
“We send our students out into the tornado drill positions. We had done it twice by lunch,” Horton said. “We didn’t have any problems that I’m aware of.”
Horton said there were no problems with buses getting the children home.
Kelly Lakey, student services coordinator at Sylacauga City Schools, said students had to go through tornado drills three times Monday.
“The students did exactly what they’re supposed to do. We could not have asked for things to run any more smoothly,” Lakey said.
