On January 19, 2019, an EF2 tornado hit parts of Wetumpka near downtown, damaging several businesses and homes, thankfully leaving no injuries or fatalities. The First Baptist Church and city police station were heavily damaged, forcing the police station to relocate. Among damaged was First Presbyterian Church which was destroyed. Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jonathan Yarboro, says the city…
A landmark church in Wetumpka that was destroyed in an EF-2 tornado, is now one step closer to being restored to its former glory. Wednesday morning, church members watched excitedly as a new steeple was lifted on top of its building. First Presbyterian Church is being rebuilt from the ground up, after the tornado flattened the historic sanctuary in January…
This weekend marks the one year anniversary since an EF-2 tornado damaged homes, businesses and churches in Wetumpka. Today, you can still reminders of that January 2019 day. “It was very very scary. I actually came out on the front porch here when I heard the sirens and stuff going off. And the wind started picking up very bad, so…
The severe weather threat we are facing brings back painful memories for many people in Wetumpka. It was January 19, 2019 that an EF-2 tornado hit near downtown with winds of up to 135 mph. People in Wetumpka know all too well that tornado season doesn’t take a break during the winter months. “Looking back almost a year ago, the…
The Elmore County Commission has unanimously approved a $1.23 million bid for the construction of a new sheriff’s operation building. “The building that we had that the drug task force was housed in actually sustained total damage. I mean it was wrecked,” said Elmore County Sheriff, Bill Franklin. The building was located on Jeanette Barrett Industrial Boulevard where several buildings received significant damage. In…
It’s been six months since an EF-2 tornado hit near downtown Wetumpka. The tornado, which touched down on Saturday, Jan. 19, caused extensive damage to First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, the city police department and many homes. Today, you can see that there has been a lot of cleanup, though signs of the storm remain. Much of the debris…
Alabama businesses and residents affected by severe weather and a tornado on Jan. 19 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Administrator Linda McMahon has announced. A tornado hit near downtown Wetumpka that day, causing extensive damage but no loss of life. Gov. Kay Ivey had asked for a disaster declaration by the SBA. The…
First Presbyterian Church in Wetumpka was one of the hardest hit structures by this weekend’s tornado. As we’ve reported, not much is left, but the pastor says the congregation is ready for the challenges that are ahead. Pastor Jonathan Yarboro lost more than the church, his home was also damaged. “I got a phone call from my youngest daughter that…
Monday afternoon, Gov. Kay Ivey toured the destruction left behind when an EF-2 tornado hit part of Wetumpka on Saturday afternoon. “Each one impacts the people of that area in respective ways so. It’s just about as bad as it can get. Except we didn’t have any loss of life and we are so grateful for that. I just take…
As part of our extensive Live coverage of the Wetumpka tornado, Elmore County Commissioner Troy Stubbs joined news anchor Darryl Hood at the scene of the destruction. That part of Wetumpka is in Stubbs’ district. Meanwhile, Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis, who was also part of our Live coverage throughout the day and night on Saturday, said, “I appreciate everyone’s prayers….
