Henryville High School Releases Terrifying Tornado Footage From School Security Cameras (VIDEO)

The footage is only about about 20 seconds long, but that's all the time it takes to see Henryville Junior-Senior High School torn apart by the devastating tornado that ravaged Indiana, Kentucky and other states in the Ohio Valley region earlier this month.

Security camera footage obtained by WDRB News this week shows how little time it took for the only high school in Henryville, Indiana to be utterly destroyed in the storm.

In one horrifying shot taken from the school's gymnasium, the lights go dark for a few moments before the roof is torn off the building and debris starts pummeling the room. Footage from inside the school shows empty hallways becoming eerily still before walls blast down the corridors.

John Reed, assistant superintendent of West Clark Community Schools, told WDRB News that the footage reinforces how miraculous it is that no one suffered injuries from the storm.

"I was completely amazed that no one was hurt. That we didn't have one child, teacher, bus driver with a scratch," Reed told the station. "It was amazing that we could get through something like that."

As engineers and construction consultants continue to evaluate the total extent of the damage to the school, the West Clark Community school board has been meeting to devise long-term plans for getting students back in the classroom.

According to WTHR News, board members have arrived at a plan to open temporary classrooms in neighboring towns, though some of the locations may not be ready for students until April.

But administrators hope that come next fall, students will be able to return to Henryville schools.

"I still think it's hopeful," Henryville Junior-Senior High School Principal Troy Albert told WTHR News. "When you see the cleanup, it's a hope that we're going to be in here next fall."

Watch more video and live streams from the storm, below:

From our partners

• How Two Determined Sisters Set Up A Pet Rescue Pipeline To Colorado - Mother Nature Network
• Panel Finds Flaws In Hurricane Sandy Warning System - Climate Central
• 11 Images And Facts About A Misunderstood Creature - Mother Nature Network

Comments

[olehippi]

12:58 PM on 04/14/2012

I have made a decision to boycott T-Mobile. I am so frickinsick of the too cutesy T-Mobile ad that shows before...and after....every video on AOL. Hopefully other feel the same and will join in the botcott.

[aralpharetta]

09:57 AM on 03/20/2012

No One Can Control GOD+

[outlawjames8]

10:03 AM on 03/19/2012

God acting out again.

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

09:34 AM on 03/19/2012

This destruction and potential tragedy brought to you by T-Mobile.

WTG HP.

[Carroll27]

09:32 AM on 03/19/2012

What's up with the Activia ads?

[outlawjames8]

10:03 AM on 03/19/2012

so you can stay regular doing the storm silly.

[Republican crybabies]

09:31 AM on 03/19/2012

We feel safe and in charge most of the time, but there's nothing like a natural disaster to show us the power of nature.

[verylargehat]

05:59 PM on 03/19/2012

It's scary to think about how your life can change in an instant.

[El Chingaso]

02:53 AM on 03/19/2012

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature...with standardized tests and poor fiscal management.

[Archie Bonker]

02:26 AM on 03/19/2012

Video brings back the memories of how devastating a Tornado can be. Its something I will never forget.

[Jan Badinski]

01:56 AM on 03/19/2012

Yet people wonder why I prefer earthquakes to tornadoes.

[Barringtonmorr]

01:45 AM on 03/19/2012

wow

[LiberalBuzz]

01:27 AM on 03/19/2012

That is to tragic. Something I am curious about is why tornado cellars are no longer built. I can actually remember when no one would have a place without one. I was surprised to see they are not mandatory. And as for schools why not an underground parking for those buses and other vehicles? Seems like that would be cheaper than replacing them all the time. And would be a whole hellofalot safer than the school gym (obviously) Well it just seems like something that those in the midwest are always touting is something they don't do and that is use common sense.

[Jan Badinski]

01:57 AM on 03/19/2012

I wonder about that, too. They used to also be bomb shelters. IMO they should be mandatory.

[charon]

08:16 PM on 03/18/2012

They don't make'em like they used to.

[rewith85man]

09:04 PM on 03/18/2012

And some people are not as good as they used to be either.

[prodeus1]

07:45 PM on 03/18/2012

Most of you are talking of the ausome power of this tornado,But does any one remember May 18,1980 When mount ST.Helens erupted,It was like an atom bomb went off.It was so big one side of it collapsed.It had enough power to hurl rocks the size of cars 200 miles away.It caused 274 billion dollars in damage,killed 57 people,and spread ash over 11 states.I felt bad for the people liveing 200 mi away and seeing a car size rock falling from the sky,Now thats power.

[OilCrash]

11:06 PM on 03/18/2012

Imagine what will happen when the super volcano under Yellowstone blows. That will be some end of the world stuff there.

[Jan Badinski]

02:09 AM on 03/19/2012

Not the end of the world. Just the end of numerous species, a long winter, no crops,.... etc. The earth would live on just fine. Its the rest of us that won't.

[Jan Badinski]

02:00 AM on 03/19/2012

I remember it vividly. Thankfully most of the people there were managed to be evacuated before it blew. It was quite a serious eruption. Rest in peace the Boy Scout troop and its leader. The power of nature is unmatched, and humans will never be able to beat it. Mother nature ALWAYS wins. Best to get out of her way.

[bettestreep]

06:46 PM on 03/18/2012

Can't wait for the first rightwing loon to claim the tornado was due to same sex marriage, abortion or contraception.

My money is on Santorum.

[Andrea Doria]

08:33 PM on 03/18/2012

I can't wait for them to state that the victims shouldn't be allowed assistance to pick up the pieces.

[Tiki Bob]

08:46 PM on 03/18/2012

Pat Robertson will be a close second. That loon never misses an opportunity to use a tragedy to predicate his Radical Right Wing agenda of hatred, bigotry and bias!

[bettestreep]

09:23 PM on 03/18/2012

Isn't it funny how the people who scream the most about how they are 'christians' are the ones who spew the most hate, bigotry and bias???

Santorum, Robertson, Palin, Falwell....

[Christschool]

06:34 PM on 03/18/2012

The commercial is longer than the video.

[thadea]

12:13 AM on 03/19/2012

there should be a law

[LiberalBuzz]

01:22 AM on 03/19/2012

You beat me to it. That ticked me off. Lame commercial too.