Season 2 Episode 9: Damage is Bad Here in Rolling Fork Mississippi to Silver City Mississippi EF 4

I don't own rights to music. The tornado first touched down in Issaquena County, southeast of Mayersville, which is east of the Mississippi River, at 7:57 pm CDT. The exact location of where the tornado touched down has been debated between academic scholars;[22] its official touch down point was placed south-southwest of the intersection of Turner Road and Grant Road. It tracked northeastward and caused EF1 damage to trees, a power pole, and outbuildings as it crossed Grant Road before moving through the Steele Bayou Canal and into Sharkey County, downing trees at EF1 intensity. The tornado then rapidly grew in size and strength as it approached Rolling Fork from the southwest, snapping and uprooting many trees in a wooded area at EF2 intensity, including some that sustained debarking. The tornado then reached low-end EF4 intensity and produced violent tree damage as it exited the wooded area, where severe debarking occurred, one tree was ripped out of the ground by its root ball, and pieces of shredded trees were thrown into an adjacent field. EF1 to EF2 damage occurred farther from the center of the tornado's damage path as it crossed Bear Lake Road, where a house lost its roof and exterior walls, and two residences west of that home lost significant portions of their roof covering. A mobile home was also rolled in this area. At that time, violent rotation of radar paired with a debris signature prompted the issuance of a tornado emergency by the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi at 8:04 pm CDT; the tornado would remain under this tag for most of its existence.[1][2] However, although the initial warning for Rolling Fork was issued well in advance, many residents stated that they did not receive any warning due to the cell service being down, the tornado sirens not going off, and the fast speed of the tornado. As a result, the tornado's arrival caught many people off guard with some of them not even knowing what had happened.[23] Additionally, there are no public shelters in the town nor are there any in the rest of the Sharkey County and the surrounding counties. Thus, the residents that somehow did receive a warning were forced to take shelter within their homes and mobile homes, which proved to be inadequate.[24]The tornado seen from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign COW RadarAs it reached the southwestern outskirts of Rolling Fork, the tornado moved directly through the Indian Bayou subdivision along Pinkins Road at low-end EF4 intensity, where every single home (about 15 in all) was leveled, and a few were swept away. Most of the homes in the area were poorly constructed or were manufactured homes, though one frame home at this location was well built enough to earn a low-end EF4 rating. Violent contextual damage was also noted as large hardwood trees near the residences were severely debarked, some were stripped of their branches, cars were thrown into fields and destroyed, and debris was strewn long distances. One person was severely injured in this area and died four weeks later. Low-end EF4 damage continued as the tornado crossed MS 826, where a brick house was flattened, and many trees were debarked and left with only stubs of branches remaining. A large metal outbuilding was swept away at high-end EF2 intensity in this area as well. The tornado then weakened slightly, but remained intense, completely destroying a house near Oasis Drive at high-end EF3 intensity. The home was leveled, but it may have been struck by three nearby mobile homes that were thrown and destroyed. The tornado maintained EF3 strength as it entered the southwestern part of Rolling Fork.[25]Rolling ForkTrack and intensity map of the tornado through Rolling Fork.Key As the tornado entered Rolling Fork at the southwest side of town, it weakened but remained intense as it produced widespread EF2 to EF3 damage as it moved through residential areas. Many houses sustained major structural damage with roofs completely removed and exterior walls destroyed, and a few were leveled. Manufactured homes were obliterated, debris was scattered throughout the area, and the Sharkey Issaquena Hospital sustained damage to its exterior.[26][27] A couple was killed near 7th Street by a large semi-truck that was lofted and slammed into their home. Several structures at an agriculture business were also flattened. After briefly weakening to EF2 strength, the tornado rapidly increased to EF4 intensity again near the center of Rolling Fork at MS 14. A large brick duplex was leveled and partially swept from its foundation and two warehouses near the center of town were obliterated. The local library and animal shelter were destroyed, the Rolling Fork Police Department sustained roof loss and some collapse of exterior walls, and the fire station, post office, city hall, Rolling Fork Elementary School, South Delta High School, and a church were significantly damaged. One person died in a mobile home that was destroyed.