New videos of Lake Martin, Alabama, tornado damage and an amazing survival story by a Lake Martin area business.

I spent Friday, April 29, 2011, in the Tallapoosa County Road 34 area.  This area of Lake Martin was the site of much damage – a direct hit from the tornado that passed through on Wednesday, April 27.

The Alabama State Troopers had a roadblock up on County Road 34 to limit traffic flow to the absolutely necessary.  I was shocked and amazed when I saw the damage and destruction the tornado left behind, especially to two area businesses: Kelley’s Heating and Air, and The Green Monster Fishing Light.  They are located at about 11003 County Road 34, Dadeville, AL 36853.

I shot a quick video of one of the more amazing scenes I have seen: the tornado picked up weights and threw them about 200 yards.  One of them was a 70 pound dumbbell. It was hard for me to understand how it could pick up something so heavy, with so low a profile and center of gravity. But it did, and did it en route to completely destroying the Kelley metal building and ripping trees from the entrance to Maxwell Gunter Recreation Area.  Check out the video:

I then went and interviewed Ronnie Dennis of The Green Monster Fishing Light.com.  He lives close by ground zero, and his father somehow miraculously survived a direct hit from the tornado while inside the metal building. I found his story to be inspiring, I hope you do, too.

Tomorrow I plan to get back out to the Tallapoosa County area and talk to volunteers and firemen that are working feverishly to help those in need.  As of noon today, Tallapoosa County, Alabama was still not on the disaster area list.  This must be sheer ignorance on someone’s part.  If they could see a fraction of the tornado damage here, we would receive some more aid.

Lake Martin stretches over three Alabama counties: Coosa, Elmore, and Tallapoosa.

For more images of the tornado’s aftermath at Lake Martin:

Lake Martin Voice Photos on Flickr

Kenneth Boone Photos

Lake Martin Dock Company Photos