A tornado with walloping winds of 135-165 mph touched down in Enterprise, Alabama, on March 1, just after 1 p.m., killing nine people – eight of whom had taken shelter in Enterprise High School.

The tornado, spawned from a supercell thunderstorm, tore an eight-mile swath through the city, splintering buildings and trees and lives as it went.

The hardest hit, of course, was Enterprise High School, where eight students died, mostly in hallways that exploded all around them.

There were an estimated 13,300 power outages in the wake of the tornado. The path of destruction was estimated to be 200 yards wide and ten miles long, with at least 731 structures damaged.

People wishing to contribute to the Enterprise High School’s student body fundraiser may do so in person at the EHS administrative office. To contribute to the City of Enterprise (Ore.) tornado assistance fund, contact City Hall at 426-4196.

In addition to local fundraisers, people may also make donations directly to the locals in Enterprise, Ala., at: Enterprise Alabama Tornado Fund , C/o C B & T, P.O. Box 311245, Enterprise, AL 36331