Harris County High hit by tornado

By: Phil Scoggins | WRBL News 3
Published: November 16, 2011

HAMILTON, Ga. --

To drive by the front of Harris County High School Wednesday afternoon, you would never know a tornado had struck. Only a slight amount of roof damage was detectable from the front parking lot. But the scene behind the school was a different story.

A portable soft drink stand was tilted on its side. The sun was shining through a hole chiseled out of the top of the automotive shop. The gymnasium on the back side of the school had a big chunk of aluminum peeled off.

The auditorium also sustained some roof damage. That's where band member Aaron Henderson was when the tornado hit. Henderson says, "We went into the hallway and the doors just started opening and closing, could feel the wind just blasting through. So we got into the bathrooms and hunkered down."

Student Ivy Martin says just before 2:00, "The power went out and all of a sudden you heard the wind like a train literally coming down from the football field."

Principal Roger Couch praised the response of the students and faculty. "They responded quickly. The students got where they needed to be before, and I mean right before things started crashing."

Debris from the storm littered the football field. Some small buildings in that area were damaged. One student could be seen rummaging through the rubble salvaging some school t-shirts.

The parking lot behind the school was a target for flying debris, as students found out once the all-clear was given. Aaron Henderson says, "We got out here and we find all of our cars were banged up. A lot of us are pretty shaken up about that." It was Aaron's first car which he has had about four months. The windshield was apparently demolished by a piece of flying aluminum.

Principal Couch adds, "When you're a teenager and something happens to your car it's really important. But I think they all know what's real important is nobody got hurt."

The Harris County School District has cancelled classes for the remainder of this week. Students will be out all next week for the Thanksgiving week holiday.