Fifteen minutes is all it took for a long-track tornado to wreak havoc and destroy homes and property across the upper Lake Martin area last month. Rated as strong as EF-3, the tornado swept through southeastern Coosa and northern Tallapoosa counties just after lunch on Jan. 12, scattering building materials and personal possessions in its wake.

“There’s still insulation in the trees,” Dr. Mary Battistella said at Lake magazine’s presstime.