Tornadoes

Wednesday May 18th, 2011

Photo by Shane Deruise/Raleigh

It’s been a month since a deadly storm swept through the South, churning out hundreds of tornadoes as it went. Over 300 people were killed as the tornadoes ripped through 14 states, leaving death and destruction in their wake. With winds as high as 165 miles per hour, cars were flipped, houses demolished, and trees snapped in half. More than 240 tornadoes were reported over three days.

I contacted some of our photographers based in the South to see what the storms had been like. Luckily, everyone I talked to made it out safely, and being photographers, were quick to start documenting the aftermath.

In Raleigh, our photographer Shane Deruise experienced the tornadoes firsthand. After the storms had passed, he surveyed the damage and started shooting pictures. He ended up photographing several victims of the tornadoes. Shane was especially struck by the story of one man he met who lost almost everything. He explained that Tony was in his trailer when the storm came. The tornado “ripped through half his home and also flipped three other trailers in the community. Everyone in the other trailers were killed. It was very sad,” Shane said. He’s now trying to raise money to help those like Tony with a video he created of the storms.

Tony in front of his demolished home. Photo by Shane Deruise/Raleigh

In Birmingham, our photographer Cary Norton made it through what he describes as the worst storm he’s ever seen. The next day he got a call from Garden & Gun asking him to cover the aftermath across the South. He accepted, packed up and spent a week traveling through affected areas, documenting the wreckage and people.

Cary told Garden & Gun about what he saw:

“There was nowhere to turn to escape the damage. It was all damage. [But] wherever I saw damage I saw people with grills and burgers and water and sodas. I saw strangers helping strangers, friends helping friends, and people driving from hours away to help others they had never met. It was amazing to see everyone immediately start rebuilding their towns and their lives.”

Photo by Cary Norton/Birmingham

Cary’s spirits were lifted as he saw people selflessly helping and giving to others in need. He saw the feelings of loss and despair turn into hope and encouragement.

Photos by Bryan Regan/Raleigh

Back in Raleigh, our photographer Bryan Regan was lucky to make it through the storms unscathed. Bryan expressed his gratitude for his good fortune:

I count my blessings; the tornado in Raleigh came over the top of my studio. My building was built in 1929 and held together. Most of my neighbors were not so lucky.

After the storms had passed, he walked around snapping photos of the damage outside of his studio. However, Bryan stated, “I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but pictures don’t do it justice.”

- Maria