Oak Grove in Phil Campbell in Franklin County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

2011 Tornado

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, June 15, 2025

1. 2011 Tornado Marker

Inscription. An EF5 tornado passed through this community on Apr 27, 2011 at approx. 3:40 p.m. This storm system was one of the worst in US History and the worst natural disaster ever in the state of AL.

This storm stayed on the ground 132.1 miles from MS across AL and into TN. The storm reached its peak in the Oak Grove Community of Franklin Co. AL. with winds over 210 MPH & a path 1.25 miles wide.

This monument is dedicated to those whose lives were lost, to those who survived the storm & to all who helped comfort & restore. We are overwhelmed with help from the churches & citizens.

With a love never witnessed by the people of this community many witnessed things than cannot be written here, but may they be told or recorded elsewhere for our posterity forever.

Jeffery Cotham • Charlene Cruchet • Donald Heaps • Kelli Morgan • Michael Morgan

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is April 27, 2011.

Location. 34° 24.812′ N, 87° 34.759′ W. Marker is in Phil Campbell, Alabama, in Franklin County. It is in Oak Grove. It is at the intersection of County Route 81 and County Route 38, on the right when traveling south on County Route 81. Marker is located directly behind the Doboise War Memorial in the wye of Franklin

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County Highway 38 and Franklin County Highway 81. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12240 County Rd 81, Phil Campbell AL 35581, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Honor of Ray Hutcheson & Mason Dubois Memorial (here, next to this marker); Newburg (approx. 5 miles away); Lawson Hubbard (approx. 5.8 miles away); Major David Hubbard (approx. 5.9 miles away); Mount Hope Community (approx. 6 miles away); Counts Family Cemetery (approx. 6.3 miles away); Kinlock (approx. 8 miles away); Maxwell Chapel Methodist Church (approx. 8.6 miles away).

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, June 15, 2025

2. 2011 Tornado Marker

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, June 15, 2025

3. 2011 Tornado Marker

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, June 15, 2025

4. 2011 Tornado Marker

Photographed by Deborah Spencer, July 12, 2025

5. 2011 Tornado Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Deborah Spencer of Huntsville, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.