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April 26-28 Alabama Tornado Outbreak Damage Image Gallery

National Geodetic Survey

NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

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View a wide shot of Tuscaloosa showing the path of the tornado through the city (4.7 MB image)

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Aerial Imagery of Tornado Damage in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

May 2, 2011
Top: Google Earth image of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Bottom: NOAA image of same area after sustaining tornado damage.

"Before and after" imagery depicting tornado damage in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The "before" imagery is courtesy of Google, the "after" imagery was acquired from an altitude of 5,000 feet above ground level by the NOAA King Air April 29, 2011.

Roll over the below images with your mouse to see what the same sections of land looked after sustaining tornado damage.

Top: Google Earth image of neighborhood in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Bottom: NOAA image of same area after sustaining tornado damage.
Top: Google Earth image of neighborhood in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Bottom: NOAA image of same area after sustaining tornado damage.

On April 29, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey dispatched the NOAA King Air 350CER aircraft, equipped with specialized remote sensing equipment, on a mission to collect aerial photography at 5,000 feet from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, Ala.

These "before and after" shots show the exent of the damage caused by last week's tornado in the region.

Photos will be used to assist federal and local officials in response and recovery efforts.