Huntsville, AL F4 Tornado – November 15, 1989

A devastating tornado struck the southern portion of the City of Huntsville cutting a swatch of destruction from southwest toward the northeast through a business section and a heavily populated residential area.  Twenty-one people died and 463 people were injured as a result of the tornado.  Eighteen people died in the tornado, and three others at later dates, from injuries stated in the tornado.  Total damage estimated were place at around $100 million.

The tornado struck during the beginning of rush hour in Huntsville and, while at its strongest, moved through a business area, crossing two major north-south highways.  Twelve of the 21 deaths (57 percent) occurred in automobiles.  Most of those killed in the cars were in the process of performing normal tasks as opposed to fleeing in or seeking the automobiles for safety. 

The initial point of damage occurred 1 mile south-southwest of Madkin Mountain on the Redstone Arsenal.  The tornado continued northeast, striking the Huntsville Police Academy and crossing the municipal golf course.  The tornado entered a business and heavily populated area of Huntsville along and near US Highway 231, a major north-south traffic artery. 

Here, the tornado destroyed a number of shopping complexes, office buildings, an apartment complex, and churches.  It moved east up Airport Road and crossed Whitesburg Road, another relatively major north-south highway.  Eighteen of the twenty-one fatalities occurred in the area between the intersection of Airport Road and US Highway 231 and the intersection of Airport Road and Whitesburg Road.  Twelve of the deaths occurred in automobiles, four in apartments, and four in commercial buildings.

The tornado then moved up Garth Mountain as it continue northeast into a heavily wood section.  It moved down the east side of the mountain, then struck Jones Valley Elementary School  Thirty-seven children, five teachers and seven painters were in the school when the tornado struck.  The children were moved from the second floor of the school building into a small open area under a stairway.  This action saved the lives of the children.  One person, a woman, was killed in an automobile while driving along a nearby road enroute to the school 

From the school, the tornado crossed Garth Road and moved across a portion of Jones Valley subdivision, a development of well-constructed single family homes.  The tornado destroyed a number of homes here.  It continued across Jones Valley then moved up Huntsville Mountain, generally a rural area, destroying whatever structure it encountered.  The tornado topped Huntsville Mountain and moved down the east side, crossing US Highway 431.

Continuing, it later crossed US Highway 72 one mile southeast of Brownsboro.  The tornado continued to a small lake at the headwaters of the Killingsworth Cove Branch, a small creek which feeds into he Flint River.  The tornado path ended at the southeast tip of this small lake.

The following is a summary of damage from reports gathered by the Huntsville Times:

259 homes destroyed;  130 homes, major damage;  148 homes, minor to moderate damage;  80 business destroyed;  8 businesses damaged;  3 churches heavily damaged;  2 schools destroyed;  10 public buildings destroyed or heavily damaged;  1.9 million dollars in public utility damage.