Rainsville - The Strongest Tornado You've Never Heard Of

This is the story of the EF5 Rainsville tornado from 2011. One of the strongest tornadoes of the April 27, 2011 Super Outbreak (and possibly of all time.) Be sure to subscribe if you enjoyed this video.

Rainsville - The Strongest Tornado You've Never Heard Of

[tornadotrx]

Hope you guys enjoyed this one! I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into it!

Edit: at 12:30 when talking about the safe, I was told by the owner Tammy Robinson that the door was "never found." So I don't have an explanation for what could possibly be the safe door to the left. I'd assume with how long ago the tornado was, it's hard to remember small details like that. Hope this doesn't take too much away from the video. Love you guys <3!

[SilverThunder]

Rainsville is honestly way too forgotten. Any EF5 should be remembered. Just like Piedmont, there was other tragedy that just overshadowed this one.

[jeffisaliar]

The safe, footer, and shelters being lifted is probably the most terrifying thing concerning a tornado I've ever heard of!

[chrisholloway]

I'm the grandson of Wayne Thompson, the home on 591 was my childhood home.
My uncle Andy is the one that actually snapped that picture.
I was lucky enough to not be there, but a homemade storm shelter is what saved everyone's life that day. My grandfather (Wayne) built it into the side of the hill at 672 Co Rd 591 in the 90s. I remember when he was putting it in.

[tsbell]

Lifting a storm shelter, digging up a concrete foundation, ripping up asphalt and sidewalks, that’s a monster. You can never underestimate the power of tornadoes.

[poggergen]

"Oh my god it took the tree!"

Be glad that's all it took from you 😭

[tokyo_taxi]

"It's not that bad! It's not gonna get me!"
Baby girl, that thing is RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!

[grapeshot]

Dixie Ally tornadoes are known to be ambush artists. Because of the hilly and wooded terrain in the American Southeast. Also they have the tendency to be rain wrapped.

[AussBosss]

5:52 “It’s not gonna hit me. It’s not gonna hit me.” The panic in her voice is so relatable as she’s trying to stay calm while deep down hoping that god is listening and the tornado doesn’t turn.

[BocchiTheBox]

Hearing a 3 foot trench being made to me sounds way more terrifying than destroying homes or derooting trees.
The basement, one of the most well-known safest places to be in during a Tornado. Is effectively useless by that point.

[jacktownsend]

Thank you for shedding light on the tornado that changed my hometown forever! I was in kindergarten when it hit and in the video you showed the path of the tornado going right over my house! My mom, dad, little sister, and I where all severely injured and our home was completely destroyed but we all survived and we built back on the same land where that monster tore through our lives 13 years ago today. As long as we are still around, Rainsville will never be forgotten!

[jacobm]

That picture of the tornado at 15:52 is one of the most chilling storm images I've ever seen. That family is fortunate to be alive, I'll tell you what.

[wubberson]

How you’ve described this tornado makes it seem like the most valid candidate for the impossible EF-6 tornado. Like holy hell, I’ve never heard of damage like that before. It’s criminal that this tornado isn’t more widely known.

[samalbert]

Man.. this video is unreal. Your attention to detail, ability to triangulate positions and deduce information from analyzing multiple sources simultaneously, your meteorological knowledge, your attention to the human impact of the storm… you’ve got a seriously special gift. This is top tier by any measure.

I would love to see a breakdown of the Phil Campbell tornado and Smithville as well, a ton to unpack with both of those storms. It’s my opinion that those tornados on April 27 2011 were just built entirely different. They were extremely fast moving unstoppable forces feeding off that once in a century atmospheric setup.

[Volgotha]

16:31 "Weee have a.. TornadoOO... headed towards.. thisaway" I burst out laughing I'm sorry I know it's not a funny situation but her intonation absolutely killed me 🤭🤣 she's so calm and polite abt it

[adriel]

I'm stunned. I had never heard of Rainsville until just now. This deserves so much more attention. Excellent video.

Please consider making a video of the Niles, OH/Wheatland, PA tornado. I live in this area and remember when it happened in 1985. I was 7. I just learned now that it was an EF5. Wheatland is a tiny industrial town and was nearly wiped out.

[creslostin]

If you look closely at 6:41 you may see what appear to be 2 vortex that make the tornado looks like dead man walking, and they also appear to orbit around the main funnel too

[jmcsquared]

8:00 "If you see the dead man walking, you are about to die."

This thing was like a clone of Jarrell. Multivortex tornados are different beasts.

[dtperformance]

I lived on Lingerfelt road (Co Rd180). Me, my wife and two sons (ages 7 and 16) were in the house when it hit. They were scattered out in the yard and I was found 75 yards away from the house in the woods. My wife had a fractured nearly broken leg, my two boys were injured but ok and I had 9 broken ribs, broken shoulder, and two concussions. My neighbor was killed that day. We were blessed to be alive, but definitely remember this day and are very weather alert and aware. Good video, but a very bad day that day.

[kellynorman]

I watch alot of tornado videos and this is the first I've heard of the Rainsville tornado. So tragic... No F5 should ever go unnoticed. God bless those people in its path❤