Details emerge about twister that smacked Athens High and The Plains

As citizens of Athens and Albany gathered at Athens High School for their annual soccer rivalry Thursday evening, they didn't expect to find themselves stuck in one of the worst storms in the past 30 years.

"I haven't seen a storm this bad since I was in Athens High School back in 1972," said High School Dean of Students John Goodwin.

The apparent tornado struck right in front of the high school and heavily damaged Basil Rutter Field, the high school's stadium, and many homes around the area.

Fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks and police agencies were all present at the high school and nearby mobile homes.

A number of injuries occurred, with no names being released.

The press box went through the concession stand and caused pipes to leak. Cars parked behind the stadium were smashed by debris from the press box and the bleachers. The visitors' bleachers were flattened and the scoreboard was left lying on the 20-yard line.

Mobile homes behind the field were flipped upside down and others were knocked onto other properties.

Many families who lived in the mobile homes were looking for places to stay for the night.

(Late Thursday night, a shelter for victims of the severe storm event was set up at Weld House on the Ohio University campus, according to emergency response spokesman Ron Lucas.)

The high school had two 1,000-pound air conditioners ripped off the roof and land into a field where cars were parked, according to Goodwin.

The flag in front of the school was torn, fences were knocked down, and a giant stone sign outside of the school was crushed.

"That stone sign weighed a lot," said Goodwin. "They had to have a crane bring it in here, and the tornado demolished it."

The players, fans, coaches and referees all were evacuated into either the locker rooms, wrestling rooms, or teachers' lounge, according to Goodwin.

Goodwin said that Athens High School is canceled for Friday and that it will be a while until sports are played again on Basil Rutter Field.

Another witness of the storm, AHS teacher John Thomas, said he was in the concession stand at the high school stadium when a tornado hit. "It tore the roof off the building, and as soon as it passed through, the 12 or so people there ran for safety. One lady (a retired teacher) was struck in the head by a TV that fell from its stand, another sustained cuts on his scalp. They were treated by the athletic trainer, and the one lady with the head injury was transported by private vehicle to O'Bleness.

Thomas said there was a large crowd at the stadium for two soccer games between Alexander and Athens. "The girls game was stopped when lightning was spotted, and the Alexander boys and girls teams went to the high school for shelter. The Athens boys and girls took shelter in a locker room building. Some fans took shelter in their cars."

Thomas said that all but four of the light poles at the field fell, "one just missing the concession stand. The visiting bleachers were destroyed, twisted and smashed. The press box was blown completely off the home stands and onto some vehicles behind."

Thomas said that all of the players on both teams were accounted for and were picked up by parents when they could reach the school.

In addition to the soccer games, a girls volleyball game between Athens and Vinton County was being played when the storm hit.


PHOTOS NEWS STAFF TORNADO COVERAGE
PHOTOS SCENES FROM THE STORM