FORT PAYNE, Ala. - On this day 11 years ago, Alabama was hit with 62 tornados killing 252 people. DeKalb County was one of the hardest hit in the state, with 25 lives lost and thousands injured.  This tornado is ranked as one of the deadliest ever to be recorded.

On that day, whole communities were destroyed.  It was one of the largest tornado outbreaks in the U.S. to this day.  The people who lost their lives in the tornados will never be forgotten.  Their names have been etched into the memorial at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum. 

DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: "As hard as it was on everyone, First Responders came together like never before and worked diligently until everyone was accounted for.  As tragic as this event was, we all tried to make something positive out of it.  We advanced our abilities to serve and assist by training and staying more prepared in the event this type event should ever happen again.  We are all family and on the same team when things like this happen, and that's what makes us all DEKALB COUNTY STRONG."

"God Bless!" Concluded Sheriff Welden.