(MOBILE, Ala.) - Several trees were downed and homes damaged in a neighborhood south of Dauphin Street Thursday after a tornado touched down in the area.
Massive shade trees snapped like twigs, crushing cars and slamming into a string of houses along Orleans Street.
"I was scared," Emilee Mayfield said, "I saw the first trucks pull up, and the neighbor's house was completely destroyed."
Betty Russell said she woke up to tornado sirens followed by what she called an explosion.
"It was a very frightening experience," Russell said, "Maybe a wire hit the ground or something."
Russell said she was only able to get out of her back door after she found her neighbor's tree laying on the front of her house.
Russell said her life was spared. The massive tree trunk landed on top of her bedroom while she slept in the living room overnight.
"It's December, and things just do happen, you know, that we don't expect," Russell said.
Russell said she will be staying at a nearby friend's house for the night.
