MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) One area hit hard by the tornado was Dauphin Street near S. Carlen Street.
The storm knocked debris around the Midtown area last night. Homes there were heavily damaged, some destroyed. When the sun came out Wednesday morning, home owners got their first chance to check out the devastation.
"I immediately started saying my prayers," said Anne Zieman. She was home alone Christmas night when the sky turned black and mother nature reared it's ugly head.
"The lights flickered. The doors started blowing and I went in the hall to get a flashlight. I ran in the bathroom when the doors started blowing open. If I had stood in the hall I would probably be dead on Silverwood somewhere," said Zieman.
The next few seconds felt like hours.
"I just knew I was gone. Debris was flying all through the house and I could hear the glass breaking. I heard the roof go and I kept saying this is only going to last 45 seconds you can make it, you can do this, you can do this," she said.
Her sister, Jane Martin lives around the corner from Anne. She came rushing to help as soon as she got the call.
"We had to climb through debris and our neighbors yards to get to her and that's the most important thing that she is alive," said Martin.
But destruction is widespread. The tornado raked through Dauphin Street near S. Carlen Street. Home after home people are left to clean up what a vicious storm left behind.
"I mean I knew it was bad last night. You couldn't see anything of course. Last night there was no power. I knew in the light of day she would be shocked and I was too. It's just a miracle," said Martin.
A miracle that no one was seriously injured. It's the silver lining in a night that no one will soon forget.
