GRAHAM, Ala. — A woman credits her grandson for saving her life when a tornado and strong storms tore through Randolph County, Alabama, along the Georgia border on Monday.
On Tuesday, crews with the National Weather Service (NWS) surveyed the damage. Officials with the NWS in Birmingham confirmed there was an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 110 mph.
Alethea Olds' barn is ruined and her home is facing extensive damage. She and the grandkids were in the living room, packing for a Memorial Day trip.
"It was around 7 o'clock," Olds said. "The kids were getting ready to go to the beach."
All of a sudden, the porch door flew open.
"My grandson grabbed the door to shut it and lock it," Olds recalled.
She said her 20-year-old grandson, Austin, struggled to get the door closed.
"And the wind just picked him up and threw him back against it," Olds said. "And so, I started to help him. And he screamed, 'It's a tornado! Run! Run!'"
Olds said she was frozen and paralyzed with fear. So, her grandson took the reins.
"He grabbed me... glass was shattering everywhere. The double windows blew out," Olds said.
They were ducking glass and flying furniture.
"We (were) practically crawling, trying to get out of this room," Olds said. "I really didn't even know if we (were) going to make it to the hall."
They scurried to the only room with no windows.
"I think that was the best place for us to get. I really do because, in Austin's bedroom, it picked up his furniture and threw it across the room," Olds said.
They waited for the storms to pass. As if the situation couldn't get any scarier, they went outside and their jaws dropped again.
The roof of her barn was torn off, the fences were knocked down, trees were slashed, car windows were shattered, equipment was broken, and debris was everywhere.
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Photos | Aftermath of storms
Olds estimated about $60,000 worth of damage. The property has been in the family for generations. And they do not have insurance.
Despite the devastating damage, her family and her animals are safe. She also had some newborn puppies in a pin that made it out.
"We were very lucky," Olds said.
She may have lost a lot, but her heart is full of gratefulness.
"I was just thankful they were here with me," Olds said.