The Day a Tornado Erased an Entire Town – Smithville

On April 27, 2011, an EF5 tornado tore through Smithville, Mississippi, as part of the historic 2011 Super Outbreak. The tornado struck the town around 3:44 PM with estimated winds of up to 205 mph. It reached a maximum width of about three-quarters of a mile and left a path of destruction that stretched for more than 37 miles across Mississippi and Alabama. In Smithville, homes were swept from their foundations, the post office and police station were destroyed, the town’s water system was knocked out, and much of the town’s infrastructure was devastated. The tornado ultimately caused 23 deaths and 137 injuries along its entire path. This is the story of what happened when one of the most violent tornadoes ever recorded hit Smithville — and what was left behind after it passed.