Casualties of the 2011 Super Outbreak

[6] A study conducted by the Center for Disease Control found that the majority of fatalities were a result of traumatic injury.

[7] The study also found that a lack of adequate sheltering within a building was a contributing factor to the high death toll.

The tornado then left the Cullman area, moving through Fairview and heavily damaging multiple buildings located in the town.

As the tornado tracked through Morgan and Marshall counties, it struck several smaller villages, including Ruth, where heavy damage was documented.

The tornado first touched down at 3:05 p.m. CDT (2005 UTC) southwest of Hamilton, Alabama, before quickly becoming violent and reaching EF5 intensity as it approached and struck Hackleburg, destroying a large portion of the town.

The tornado continued to strengthen as it moved across Alabama, reaching EF4 intensity as it passed northwest of Sumiton.

The tornado retained this intensity as it caused sporadic damage across rural Alabama, destroying numerous homes and debarking trees.

Four people were killed in the downtown Cordova, and several businesses and homes were obliterated by the tornado as it moved through the area.