(CP) – A woman who escaped unhurt after a series of powerful tornadoes swept across South Carolina Monday morning, leaving at least nine people dead, says she survived by “calling on Jesus.” Rich Okulski, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Columbia, told the Post and Courier that the storm system was the state’s most severe weather event in 12 years with several long-track,
violent tornadoes streaking across South Carolina over a six-hour period. North resident Allison Ritter told The Times and Democrat that she was at home when she heard the howl of the tornado begin to rip through her neighborhood.
“Once I heard that wind blowing, I knew. My children and I were in the house when it happened. I never experienced anything like that before. My mom ended up calling me right before it happened and about five minutes later was when I ran and got my kids,” she said.
“I started hearing all the wind blowing, windows breaking, trees cracking, debris just hitting up against the house. It was a lot.” The frightened mom said she gathered her children together, including a newborn, and sheltered in a bathroom. When it was done, she found an uprooted tree and twisted metal scattered outside. READ MORE
