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u.s. news Dialuna 21 Juni 2021

12 dead in Alabama due to Claudette, including 10 children

(AP) - Tropical Depres- Crimes Unit told The Tusca-
sion Claudette claimed loosa News.
12 lives in Alabama as the
storm swept across the The deaths occurred as
southeastern U.S., causing drenching rains pelted north-
flash flooding and spur- ern Alabama and Georgia
ring tornadoes that de- late Saturday. As much as
stroyed dozens of homes. 12 inches (30 centimeters)
of rain was reported earlier
Ten people, including nine from Claudette along the
children, were killed Sat- Mississippi Gulf Coast.
urday in a 15-vehicle crash
about 35 miles (55 kilome- Flash flood watches were
ters) south of Montgomery posted Sunday for north-
on Interstate 65, according ern Georgia, most of South
to Butler County Coroner Carolina, the North Caro-
Wayne Garlock. lina coast, parts of southeast
Alabama and the Florida
He said the vehicles likely Panhandle. A tropical storm
hydroplaned on wet roads, warning was in effect in
with eight children, ages 4 to North Carolina from the
17, killed in a van belonging Little River Inlet to the town
to a youth ranch operated by of Duck on the Outer Banks.
the Alabama Sheriffs Associ- A tropical storm watch was
ation for abused or neglected issued from South Santee
children. Two people died in River, South Carolina, to the
separate vehicle, Garlock told Little River Inlet, forecasters
local news outlets — 29-year- said. rescued and was hospitalized prayers as he began to cry. don’t usually cause huge
old Cody Fox and 9-month- in Montgomery, Smith said. flooding problems, so “we
old Ariana Fox, both of Mari- The eight children killed in Her condition wasn’t im- Gulley, the lone survivor don’t really anticipate any
on County, Tennessee. the van were returning to a mediately available. At least from the van, had worked bad scenarios.”
youth ranch operated by the one of the dead was Gulley’s with children for years, be-
Multiple people were also in- Alabama Sheriffs Association child, Smith said. ginning when she and her “Everybody here has been
jured. near Camp Hill, northeast of husband were house parents through it many, many times,
Montgomery, from a week “This is the worst tragedy at the ranch for seven years. so we’re used to the drill,” he
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old at the beach in Gulf Shores, I’ve been a part of in my life,” “During those years, there said. “We’ve been prepared.”
man and a 3-year-old boy youth ranches CEO Michael said Smith, who was driving have been 74 girls that have For the hardware store, he
were killed when a tree fell Smith told The Associated Sunday to Camp Hill to talk come through our house and said, that means having sup-
on their house just outside Press. The van caught fire af- to the remaining residents, called us mom and dad,” she plies like flashlights, batter-
the Tuscaloosa city limits ter the wreck. Candice Gul- who had returned from Gulf told the Opelika-Auburn ies, tarps, generators, ropes
Saturday, Capt. Marty Sell- ley, the director of the Tal- Shores in a separate van and News in August 2019. She and sandbags on hand. As
ers of the Tuscaloosa Violent lapoosa County ranch, was did not see the wreck. said she then became a relief of Sunday morning, there
parent, working on fundrais- wasn’t a huge rush for those
“Words cannot explain what ing and being involved in the items.
I saw,” Smith said of the ac- community, before she be-
cident site, which he visited came the ranch director. At Stack ’em High in Kill
Saturday. “We love these girls Devil Hills, a restaurant that
like they’re our own chil- Top winds from Claudette specializes in pancakes, co-
dren.” remained near 30 mph (45 owner Dawn Kiousis said
kph) on Sunday. National Sunday morning restaurant
Garlock said the location of Hurricane Center forecasters service was busy.
the wreck is “notorious” for predicted it would strengthen
hydroplaning, as the north- back to tropical storm status “We’re serving just like nor-
bound highway curves down Monday over eastern North mal,” she said. “As far as I’m
a hill to a small creek. Traffic Carolina before heading out aware, it’s not going to be too
on that stretch of I-65 is usu- to sea in the Atlantic Ocean. much of a hazard for us.”
ally filled with vacationers
driving to and from Gulf of The center of Claudette’s “You keep your eye on the
Mexico beaches on summer disorganized circulation was weather and you prepare as
weekends. located about 15 miles (20 much stuff in advance as you
kilometers) east-northeast of can,” she said. “Just know
“Butler County has had one Atlanta on Sunday morning. she’s gonna win. Mother na-
of the most terrible traffic ac- It was moving east-northeast ture is going to do what she’s
cidents,” county Sheriff Dan- at 17 mph (28 kph), the Na- going to do, so you just pre-
ny Bond wrote on Facebook, tional Hurricane Center said. pare.”
adding: “I believe is the worst
ever in our county.” Aside from rainy weather, Separately, Tropical Storm
it seemed to be business as Dolores made landfall on
The Tallapoosa County usual along North Carolina’s Mexico’s west coast with
school system said coun- Outer Banks on Sunday. near-hurricane force. As of
selors would be available Sunday morning, it had dis-
Sunday at Reeltown High At Ace Hardware in Avon, sipated over Mexico. Its
School, where some of the shift manager David Swart- remnants had maximum
ranch residents were stu- wood said they were prepar- sustained winds of 25 mph
dents. Smith said the ranch, ing for whatever might come, (35 kph), and it was centered
which is Christian-based, but the overall sense was that about 170 miles (275 kilome-
would likely have a memo- it wouldn’t be that bad. He ters) east of Mazatlan, Mex-
rial service later, asking for said winds from the south ico.