Debra York Photography: More Tornado Damage

The first week of April high winds and perhaps a tornado that didn't quite make it to the ground, ripped centuries old trees from their very roots and sent them crashing into antebellum homes and modest cottages alike. For the past 3 weeks or so, Madison has sounded as if a horde of angry bees has descended upon it from the sound of all the chain saws screaming into the fallen trees everywhere in town downed from that storm.

Our residents have been hard at work cleaning up the mess and repairing damage as the Spring Tour of Homes is scheduled for the 5th and 6th of May. And Lady Madison does love to preen and show off her beauty to visitors! Modesty aside, Madison is truly one beautiful little town.

Alas, last night we endured more high winds, roof ripping and trees falling. Most of us were up until the wee hours of the morning, one ear listening to the winds howl and keeping the other ear tuned to radios and TV's. Our power went out at about 2am and we sat in the dark and watched lightening strobe against the sky as rain pelted heavily against our windows. After about 15 minutes it was gone, we were so fortunate, nothing but small limbs and leaves about our yard and after driving a few short blocks around our home, we really realized just how fortunate we had been. A few blocks in one direction a small neighborhood called Beacon Heights has suffered a lot of damage and a few blocks in another direction a huge pecan grove lost a significant number of trees. I don't know the extent of the damage to these areas as the roads were blocked going to them.

I think the only reason the damage around town isn't any worse is due to the storms 3 weeks ago having leveled several diseased and rotted trees-I'm guessing we lost at least a couple of dozen trees then. If all those had not come down until last night, I doubt we would have been able to get around this morning at all.