Joe Mays almost ignored a National Weather Service announcement of a tornado watch and then he almost ignored the tornado warning.
Paying attention likely saved the lives of his wife and three sons as an early Wednesday morning tornado destroyed his home on New Quarters Road in Tallassee.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune City of Tallassee and Elmore County crews had already cleared Rifle Range Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune City of Tallassee and Elmore County crews had already cleared Rifle Range Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Elmore County crews had already cleared New Quarters Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Elmore County crews had already cleared New Quarters Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Elmore County crews had already cleared New Quarters Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune A home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends clear the drive to a Willow Springs Road home Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends clear the drive to a Willow Springs Road home Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends clear the drive to a Willow Springs Road home Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Jasmine Hill Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Jasmine Hill Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune City of Tallassee and Elmore County crews had already cleared Rifle Range Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune City of Tallassee and Elmore County crews had already cleared Rifle Range Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Elmore County crews had already cleared New Quarters Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Elmore County crews had already cleared New Quarters Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Elmore County crews had already cleared New Quarters Road Wednesday morning at sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune A home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends sort through belongings at a home on New Quarters Road was destroyed Wednesday morning before sunrise after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends clear the drive to a Willow Springs Road home Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends clear the drive to a Willow Springs Road home Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Family and friends clear the drive to a Willow Springs Road home Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Willow Springs Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Jasmine Hill Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
PHOTOS: Storm damage across Elmore County
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Utility crews work to clear and restore power along Jasmine Hill Road Wednesday morning after a possible tornado passed through the area.
