Killingsworth Cove residents remember devastating tornado one year later

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – One year after an EF-2 tornado tore by means of the Killingsworth Cove neighborhood, some residents are nonetheless working to return to normalcy.

The storm on May 20, 2025, leveled properties and destroyed property. Many neighborhood members have rebuilt, however others nonetheless have not.

Dusty Gipson has lived in Killingsworth Cove his whole life. He mentioned nothing may have ready him for that night time.

“It was just a normal night for us as a family. I came in from work. Cooking supper. Me and my wife were having conversations, you know, having some laughs,” Gipson mentioned.

Gipson mentioned he was watching meteorologist Brad Travis when the tone modified.

“We heard Brad Travis kind of, he kind of gasped. His whole tone of voice changed. And he said, he said, man, this is this is bad. He’s like, people need to start taking cover. And then he called our community specifically,” Gipson mentioned.

The Gipson’s went to the neighborhood shelter to attend out the storm. Gipson mentioned he may hear particles hitting the skin partitions as they waited for the storm to move.

When it was over, the house he constructed was destroyed.

One full year later, the property stays a flat plot of land.

“You know, it’s still, it’s still very raw for us. Still a lot of emotions surrounding it. It’s, it’s like, it’s like grief. It’s like losing someone you love, you know,” Gipson mentioned.

Gipson mentioned life should go on. The household has been staying in a rental house to get again to regular, however he mentioned he misses his neighbors and dwelling locally he grew up in.

“When you’re knocked down, you’ve, you’ve only got two choices. Either stay down or get up. And, and we’ve never been quitters. Um, so we’re up for a challenge. Enjoy hard work. Um, you know, that’s all we’ve ever known. That’s all we’ve ever done and that’s, that’s all we’ll ever do. So, uh, we are very excited to get started back soon and very excited to, to come back home,” Gipson mentioned.

Gipson mentioned they plan to rebuild quickly. He mentioned he desires to thank everybody who supported his household by means of the storm.

“I hope none of us ever, ever experience it ever again. But I hope in the event that it does, that we’re able to, to, our family is able to show, you know, that love and, and that help that, that we were, that we received through this,” Gipson mentioned.

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