Notasulga family unhurt after hit by possible tornado

NOTASULGA, AL (WTVM) - The National Weather Service says it appears a strong tornado tore a path a few miles long through the Notasulga community in Macon County, Alabama.

News Leader 9's Elizabeth White visited with one family Friday affected by the storm, who says a miracle saved them that night.

The Brooks family showed us the small closet under their stairs where the wife and the three children hunkered down.

James Brooks, however, was in the kitchen lighting a lantern, when he said he heard a sound he will never forget.

"When I started to light the lantern, I heard the rumble just a low almost constant thunder, I thought that's bad I need to get in my safe place my family was already there I went to go and the house exploded," James said.

Brooks dove to the kitchen floor and prayed his family was safe during what he describes as 15 seconds of pure horror.

As soon as this possible tornado hit, it was gone.

As the family was leaving the house, the local fire department, police, and neighbors were already in their yard ready to help and that help continued the next day.

The National Weather Service visited the home on Friday and they believe a tornado touched down and lasted a few miles on the ground damaging about 12 homes in the area.

He is grateful his family had a plan, they knew the safe spot in their house, and he believes it saved his family.

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