March 20, 1998 - 6:30 AM - A day we in Hall County will not soon forget. We were living in Price Place about a mile from where the tornado touched down at Lanier Elementary School. We heard one clap of thunder and a few minutes later, the power failed. My initial thought was that someone had hit a power pole. As if to confirm that, a few minutes later, we heard a siren headed north. Then, we heard a multitude of sirens and we tuned a portable radio to WDUN AM 550 to learn that a tornado had struck Lanier Elementary and moved northeast through northern Hall County.
The news got worse as we started hearing about Lanier Elementary and North Hall High School being hit and homes being destroyed near there. Then, we started hearing about the deaths. A tornado is something you never expect to happen to you or those you know - it is always somewhere else.
Today, March 20, 2008, 10 years have passed and the weather is beautiful with no clouds in the sky. Just a few days ago, we were once again reminded that we are not immune to tornados with the area staying under a tornado watch or warning most of the day on Saturday.
Clermont held a memorial service today to remember those whose lives were lost and to help us remember that life moves on and that we will someday, see our loved ones again. One of the ministers told us that the Bible mentions tornados 29 times and in the Bible, they are called whirl winds.
After the service ended, I rode my bicycle on a route that retraced the path of the tornado and took pictures of what it looks like now. 10 years ago, the devastation was hard to describe. After the memorial service pictures and videos, I will start at Lanier Elementary where the twister touched down and follow the path showing what it looks like today.
The memorial in memory of those who lost their lives in the tornado. This is located in downtown Clermont at the city park.
Hall County Fire Deparment Color Guard presents the colors. Notice the polished fire axes instead of rifles.
Video of Amazing Grace played on bagpipes. Sorry about the sound quality - wind was blowing about 15 miles per hour so the mic picks up some of that as background noise.
The news got worse as we started hearing about Lanier Elementary and North Hall High School being hit and homes being destroyed near there. Then, we started hearing about the deaths. A tornado is something you never expect to happen to you or those you know - it is always somewhere else.
Today, March 20, 2008, 10 years have passed and the weather is beautiful with no clouds in the sky. Just a few days ago, we were once again reminded that we are not immune to tornados with the area staying under a tornado watch or warning most of the day on Saturday.
Clermont held a memorial service today to remember those whose lives were lost and to help us remember that life moves on and that we will someday, see our loved ones again. One of the ministers told us that the Bible mentions tornados 29 times and in the Bible, they are called whirl winds.
After the service ended, I rode my bicycle on a route that retraced the path of the tornado and took pictures of what it looks like now. 10 years ago, the devastation was hard to describe. After the memorial service pictures and videos, I will start at Lanier Elementary where the twister touched down and follow the path showing what it looks like today.
The memorial in memory of those who lost their lives in the tornado. This is located in downtown Clermont at the city park.
Hall County Fire Deparment Color Guard presents the colors. Notice the polished fire axes instead of rifles.
Video of Amazing Grace played on bagpipes. Sorry about the sound quality - wind was blowing about 15 miles per hour so the mic picks up some of that as background noise.
21 Gun Salute
White balloons were released by surviving family members after Sheriff Steve Cronic read the names of the victims.
Lanier Elementary near Murrayville was where the tornado touched down. The gym was destroyed and one person lost their life when the delivery truck he was driving was thrown into the building. Our 3 children had gone there and were now at the middle or high school.
The tornado then struck just over the hill from the school on Newton Drive. Several homes were damaged or destroyed.
North Hall Middle School took a near miss. The tornado's path was behind the school and messed up the cross country running area as well as did some damage to the football practice field. The one thing I remember most was that it was soccer season and the soccer goals on the practice field were destroyed. Parts of one, complete with net still attached, was found about 1/4 mile away on the other side of the high school.
North Hall High School took the next hit. This is looking at the path of the tornado as it approached the school. The school caretaker lived in a mobile home in what is now a green lot that you can see directly in the center of the picture. He and
After leaving the high school, the twister proceeded to cross Mt. Vernon Highway and caused heavy damage in the Young Road area. The high school is in the background and if memory serves me, there were homes in this view in 1998 before the storm.
From Young Road, the twister took to the woods and did some damage on Brit Whitmire Road. A home at this location near Quillians Corner on Odum Smallwood Road was destroyed. The pond in the background belongs to Charlie Lathem and his house took a glancing hit.
The storm crossed Bethel Road at this location just down the hill from the intersetion with Highway 52. Homes were damaged in this area.
A mobile home was located on the bank on the back left of the pond located on Clermont Highway which connects Highway 52 and downtown Clermont. It was totally destroyed and someone was killed.
The twister left Hall County in this area at Double M Farms just a few hundred yards from the intersection of Highway 129 and Highway 254. Several homes were damaged or destroyed in this area. The storm continued into White County and dissipated.
3 comments:
I remember that tornado all too well. If I remember right, 7 families in my old church got hit by it. I used to go to Friendship Baptist in Cleveland. I remember I just got to work when my mom called and said we just had a tornado go through. I lived over by Lanier school and it went across the lake right behind our trailer. If I would've been running late for work that day, I could've been just like that produce driver that got slammed into Lanier school. I thank God for his protection on me & my family.
Renee Coburn
I remember the tornado like it was yesterday even though I was only 7 years old! It killed one of my mothers close friends (Tonya and her son). She was the caregiver for North Hall High School. I remember my parents were driving trying to see if Tonya had made it through the tornado but the cops wouldn't let them through. I hope they know how loved and missed they all truly are.
Kristin Allen
The tornado killed my teachers husband he drove that truck it smashed lanier. I went to lanier and saw pictures of the destructio
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