Tornado passes through Enterprise, Dale County

By Kelly Tabor

Published: October 8, 2008

A tornado reportedly hit the Enterprise and Daleville area around noon Wednesday.

At 11:30 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for southeast Coffee county and Dale county.

Enterprise Police Chief TD Jones’ initial report said the storm may have been a downburst, but Coffee County Emergency Management director John Tallas confirmed it was a tornado that affected Enterprise, Daleville, Level Plains and Wicksburg.

Enterprise police reported several trees down and some broken windows and damage to the Enterprise Civic Center including the police station. According to Capt. Mike Lolley, the tornado’s path crossed Main Street near City Hall. Wal-mart on Boll Weevil Circle took a direct hit from the tornado, but no major structural damage or major injuries have been reported.

Police directed traffic on the east side of Boll Weevil Circle as Alabama Power company workers repaired downed power lines at the Enterprise Shopping Center. Employees at JC Penney’s, Big Lots and Hibbett’s Sports watched the storm from the front doors of the darkened businesses.

Power was also out at Wal-mart and it became a makeshift shelter as customers huddled at the back of the store. The front doors and main grocery entry way were severly damaged and crews worked to keep customers clear of hanging wires and debris.

“All I know is our building got hit and we are being used as a shelter,“ said associate Frank Diaz.

Customer Amber Archie, her grandmother, and her son Jackson were in the store’s entry way when the sky turned black. She said the whole parking lot looked like it was spinning with leaves and debris when suddenly the lights in the store went out.

“I lost him,“ Archie said of her son. “I was trying to help my grandma and one of the store associates took him for me but I didn’t know. It was crazy. I just wanted him with me, you know?“

Customer relations manager Sandy Howard said the front entry of the store was thrown into chaos as customers began “trampling” each other trying to get out of the store. Howard sent a message over the loudspeaker for everyone to head to the back of the store, which is considered a “Safety Zone” because of a thick brick wall.

Fort Rucker military police officer Christopher Scott said fire and rescue teams had responded to a woman would had an attack relating to her Type-2 diabetes, a man who was on an oxygen tank, and another who began hyperventilating. All three were treated on the scene.

After the last few customers were treated and released, Wal-mart employees scrambled to put away food and merchandise that was left in abandoned shopping carts.