A True Story of Love and Resilience in the Worst Superstorm in History

This book was recommended to me by a Warning Coordination Meteorologist from Norman Oklahoma. It is a fantastic book. Lots of names of folks I know of or have met in the field of meteorology. Kim Cross is an amazing writer and I loved the way her words wove the story. I could not put the book down. After reading this book I realized why I do what I do when I am out spotting for severe weather. .

Gripping and wrenching and heartbreaking...the story(s) of the Alabama tornado outbreak that killed so many, is not an easy read due to the content, but well written and hard to put down. Portraits of survivors and victims detail the narrative as the you literally live the experience in the midst of this disastrous day. Pick it up at the same time as the Oklahoma tornado book by Holly Bailey for two of the best tornado books in print.

Most everyone knows about tornados. We all have seen news footage of them as well as the aftermath. Some people have even experienced them first hand, and the aftermath. Maybe those who have lived in an area where tornados are frequent know all about them, or think they do. For everyone else Kim Cross's book What Stands in A Storm will make you think twice about what your behavior will be the next time you find yourself in an area under a tornado warning.
What Stands In A Storm is about a horrific outbreak of tornados that hit Alabama April 24-27th. In the month of April 757 tornados were reported in the United States, shattering all previous records. On April 27th, 62 of them hit Alabama.
What Stands In A Storm puts the reader in the expert hands of a writer so adept at telling a story, you will feel that what is happening in the book, is happening to you. She explains the science of tornados, as well as why they are so hard to pin down, the author highlights a number of people who lived through this terrifying ordeal, as well as some people who did not, who through no fault on their part were directly in the path, of pure devastation.
What the writer of this book does exceptionally well is to personalize the experience the reader feels what the people living through this storm feel, and it makes this book a very powerful experience.
This is an outstanding book that will hopefully be widely read.

My Thoughts
Having lived in the Midwest most of my life, I am no stranger to tornado warnings. Thankfully, I have never experienced a tornado and hope I never will. Recently, it occurred to me that I have become a bit too lackadaisical with regards to heeding the tornado warnings. Not long ago, I was actually getting mad at the weather person for interrupting my TV show (Sponge Bob).

This book is a prime example of why we should all take tornado warnings seriously. People who did everything they were supposed to still lost their lives. How stupid of me to think something as simple as going to the basement is too much trouble. Not anymore.

This is an intense - educational - heartbreaking yet uplifting story. We learn about how tornados are formed and a brief history of the national weather service. We get to ride along with storm chasers. And we spend time with individuals as they ride out the tornado - some who survived and some who did not,

The author did an outstanding job of making this a very interesting story. I learned alot and I have a new respect for tornados and tornado warnings.

Many thanks to Atria Books, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

This powerful book grabs you into its pages and like the tornados, it spirals your emotions on a wild ride. It is a true story of the grisly damage done by the 62 tornados that took place in Alabama on April 27, 2011. Nevertheless, the author does not just focus on the horror of the situation, providing also the courage, strength, community's uniting, and the strength to move on after this catastrophe. I found not one bad thing about the writing of this book. It is written in three different sections: the storm, aftermath, and recovery making the story come together exceedingly well.

I learned an immense amount of information about weather and meteorology such as all the history behind it including the accidental discovery of radar, how the tornado sirens came to be, the first airplanes P-61C's to fly into tornados taking the first measurements of them, in conclusion, the remarkable groundwork accomplished to get science where it is today.

The book will have you shedding tears as you go along on the journeys of people losing loved ones. The turmoil of losing everything a person had plus the place where they once felt safe had called home. Henceforth, you will be smiling with joy when you read about people helping others they do not know. Also, when a ghastly event proves that compassion still lives inside us all even towards a rival. This book just blew me away (no pun intended). Thank you, Kim Cross for taking me on this adventure.

"Thanks Netgalley for letting me give an honest opinion of this book"

I have always been fascinated with tornadoes, so I was drawn to this book as soon as I saw the cover. I have never seen a tornado nor dealt with the aftermath of one. This book was very interesting to read. The author did a very good job of explaining the known science behind tornadoes as well as some interesting historical storms. What I loved about the book was that the author introduced us to people who experienced it. We met meteorologists, storm chasers, students and their parents, and residents of the cities that were hit by the tornadoes. We got a glimpse into their lives before, during and after the tornadoes ravaged their cities. I believe that the reading of this book has helped me to have more respect for the incredible and awful power of the wind and the destruction that it leaves behind. I found myself looking up names of people and places on the internet for a more visual understanding of the events. Seeing images of the demolished cities also helped me to understand more fully the heartache of those touched by the storms. It was a thought-provoking read that will stay with me for a while.

As a heads-up to others, people are quoted in the book and that included a few uses of the F word. I understand that people were going through their own personal hell and that language is understandable. It was a little jarring because the word is very offensive to me, but I understand.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read many nonfiction books for pleasure. I became hooked on the story in the excerpt in a Southern Living magazine. (Disappointed that the link they gave for "the rest of the story" on some people didn't actually tell "the rest of the story".) I was hooked enough that I decided to read the book. The first half, if you aren't meteorology oriented (I'm not), has a few areas that is hard to get through. Not so much that you can't read it. Cross did an excellent job of elementary-izing it and I have definite understanding on what to pay attention to and where to go should we have tornado alerts in NW Houston (Mr. Spann...you continue to educate). Being not in an area that has frequent tornados especially of a higher magnitude (hurricanes, yes, tornados, no), I have a much clearer understanding and fearful respect of the damage these bring to lives on now a more personal level than I had before. The first half of the book also brings into the people and their stories and the last half is definitely more focused on the people aspect. Alert for those who also cry at Hallmark commercials...Cross had me crying through most of the book with a wonderful writing skill that brought you into these families' lives. I'm left with a feeling of grief for those that went through this tragedy and hoping that 4 years later that those that helped are blessed and those that lost, have found a purpose that they can hold onto. This isn't a rosy fairytale ending, but it is a book that is a gripping tale of real life tragedy and hope that rises from it....and you don't want to put it down until you have found out "the rest of the story". Will be encouraging my 15 year old to read it this summer.

I highly recommend this well-written account of the terrifying and deadly storm season in America during April 2011. All records were broken.

From weather forecasters to forecast science, from the accounts of people on the ground to social media posts and phone texts as events unfolded, the thorough research gives a broad and richly populated picture. We meet storm chasers and those huddled in shelter, first responders and those who had no authority but took charge when needed. 358 tornadoes ripped through twenty-one states in three days. 348 people had been killed and many more injured.

Some of the tales are moving as we learn that not everyone survived, and families have to try to identify loved ones. Other tales inspire as communities come together and provide aid, transport, food and solace. Social site pages give a way of tracking down not only people but lost items such as a quilt. Phones and the internet enable immediate tracking of storms, tornadoes and damage by those on the ground to co-ordinate warnings and rescues.

See the human face as well as the science behind the devastation of global warming.

I remember hearing about the horrible tornados that struck Tuscaloosa. Who in SEC country didn't hear about it and feel pain even if the Tide were your rivals. What I didn't realize was how wide spread the tornado outbreak was in Alabama. Kim Cross does a magnificent job using investigative reporting and research skills to recreate the horrible event. She uses the actual words of survivors as well as those who were lost during those days. Through her words we feel the horror, hope, and healing that occured from this "act of God".I recommend this book to anyone who is a weather geek, a disaster geek, or just like a truely heartfelt story told by a talented author.

Living in the South where there are so many tornadoes, this book caught my attention. It is a non-fiction but reads like a novel. In a three-day period in April 2011, 349 tornadoes touched down within “tornado alley”. It left at least 324 people dead and caused $11 billion in damage. Most of the dead were in Alabama. This book is the story of the people who survived (and some who didn’t) this hell on earth. It is told with compassion and with obvious heartbreak.

Ms. Cross wrote so well that I felt some of the people were my friends. I felt their fear, their heartache, their strength. People put aside football rivalry and helped each other. Some history of storm watching is interspersed. Even this was interesting. After reading this no one should ever ignore the warnings the National Weather Service puts out.

As an amateur meteorologist, I'm always on the lookout for a good book about the weather. This one is scientifically accurate and also heartbreaking. Cross does a suburb job digging into the stories of people caught up in the storm, both those who lived and died, and she arranges the story in a way that's easy to follow. Though the science part may have been what attracted me to the book, I believe I came away with a better appreciation for how storms affect people. Cross's style is personable and you come to know the people in this story like family. I had tears in my eyes a number of times, not an easy task for one with a cold, scientific heart.

Wow! This was a 2016 selection for our book club and not one I normally would have selected. That would have been a mistake as this is one of the most riveting books I have read in years. Fascinating details of a terrifying event and the spirit of those who perished and those who survived. Most of us will never forget where we were on 9/11, but the survivors of this monster tornado neither will never forget where they were this day in 2011. The author's writing style immediately drew me into the lives of some of the survivors and victims...from what they were wearing to their last tweets. Who will live, who will die? We share the terror of those who were faced with the minute by minute approach of the deadliest natural disaster to ever hit this state. So powerful, it seems unbelievable that this is not a work of fiction, but every moment was meticulously researched and detailed. Amazing!

A beautifully written story of a heartbreaking storm. I couldn't put this book down, and experienced more emotions than I knew possible from words printed on a page. Kim's story of the strength left after the storm passed makes me proud to be from Alabama.

Weather is around us every day. With The Weather Channel and weather apps left and right, it's become a universal hobby. We watch the weather like we watch a video game our kids are playing. It's easy to lose sight of how the weather impacts lives. What Stands In A Storm is an awful, yet beautiful reminder of the superior power Mother Nature wields and the sometimes horrific toll she extracts. Yet in those moments of unimaginable danger and in the aftermath of tragedy the likes of which most of us will never see reside the lessons of strength, compassion, and love. Read this book not for the gruesome terror of the deadly tornadoes that tore through the South on April 27, 2011. Read this book for the beauty of a strength and of a spirit that lies somewhere within us.

I remember watching a tornado form on April 3rd or 4th, 1974 as a teenager. It was a scary sight. Soon after that, we drove through the other side of town to check out the damages done by all the tornadoes that day. It was horrendous. Then I heard about the destruction in Xenia, Ohio and Brandenburg, Kentucky. A friend of my parents cancelled checks were found in Xenia, Ohio. We lived in Louisville, Kentucky. That began my fear of tornadoes.

This book is about the next largest group of hurricanes in a short time, 2011 in Alabama. I guess for me, this book was like driving by a wreck, you have to stop and look or at least slow down. It was just an interesting book to me and I enjoyed reading most of it. I did skip through several pages when it was describing the meteorological aspect of how tornadoes are formed. However, I did enjoy the personal stories that were added and how people dealt with the oncoming danger before and after.

It's not my usual genre, but I did enjoy reading it.

Thank you Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping story of the trail of destruction caused by numerous violent tornadoes that touched down in “Tornado Alley” during a short period of time. The story gives a gut wrenching account of the tragic loss of human lives, the heroics of the rescuers, and the reaction of those who pulled together in the aftermath to offer a helping hand. Fascinating accounts of the weather conditions that spawn these EF4 and EF5 monsters. This is not a dry account of statistics but rather a telling of real events and real people experiencing the violent side of nature. There are lessons to be learned and hopefully remembered by readers of this factual accounting. Not a book easily put down until the very last page and probably one I will read again and recommend to friends and relatives. Five stars plus!

I heard this author speak at the Decatur Book Festival. I became interested in reading the book. It really does not dissapoint. Its nonfiction written with all the character developmrnt and pacing of the best fiction.

I found myself very emotionally engaged with these people and how they weather the storm and its aftermath. And eventhough we lose people along the way, how the communities pull together to help each other is so comforting. So life afirming. I recommed this book highly.

My husband and I just finished reading it and couldn't put it down. We are from Alabama, but now live out-of-state and we watched helplessly that day as our families all over the state battled these storms. It was one of the most terrifying days I have ever experienced, but nothing compared to the characters in this book. Ms. Cross did such a great job capturing their tragic stories, but also their undying spirits! Thank you for showing the rest of the world the true spirit of Alabama and its wonderful people! Keep writing! You have a true gift!

Wrenching, terrifying and deeply visceral, What Stands in a Storm is at once one of the most powerful and moving stories and one of the most emotionally difficult books I have read. The author's genuine empathy and admiration for the people and the community she has written about jump off the page and have created a book that will haunt you long after you have put it down.

I lived in Chattanooga, TN when this storm hit and I thought we were hit hard. We were without power a full week and there were trees and power lines down all over our neighborhood and the county. We also had deaths in our area. I see now that we got off lucky compared to the Alabama and Mississippi towns that were hit. April 27 was a long day. A very long day. Well written, this book might be difficult to read, especially at the end. No punches were pulled when describing the tragedy and anguish of the survivors.

I was fortunate to meet Kim Cross on the anniversary of the 2011 tornado in Tuscaloosa. I had read the book and thoroughly enjoyed her writing. She told difficult stories in such a kind and honorable manner. Kim also met with our book group via video chat. She was delightful and so willing to share her knowledge and insights on the stories of humanity, loss, and survival. Thank you!