A decade after a deadly tornado tore through the Tri-State, residents will pause to remember the four lives lost.
On Thursday, residents of the Blue Ash and Montgomery areas will get two chances to remember the killer tornado of 1999 which, 10 years ago to the day, killed four people and damaged almost 100 homes.
The first remembrance service began at 9 Thursday morning at Sycamore High School, which was just across the street from dozens of homes that sustained severe storm damage.
The second service is being held at Blong Memorial Park at Montgomery and East Kemper roads in Symmes Township, starting at Noon. The park was created two years ago to serve, in part, as a permanent memorial to the tornado's victims and the hundreds of people who came to help.
One thing that made the deadly F4 twister so frightening as it carved a seven mile path through northern Hamilton County was its timing. The funnel cloud touched down in the pre-dawn darkness, while most were still asleep.
Many Tri-State residents went to sleep the night before knowing there might be some rough weather, but never imagining how rough it would end up being. People had very little warning as many of the county's sirens did not work that tragic morning.
The tornado killed four people that morning. The victims include Jacque and Lee Cook, a couple who were literally blown out of their house, along with Donald Lewis and Charles Smith, who were both killed in their cars when the tornado crossed the highway.
The high winds even tossed a 10 month old baby out of his crib, but he and his family survived the storm.
We'll have both of Thursday's memorial events covered for you here at wcpo.com and on 9News.
Do you have memories of the 1999 tornado? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
