Enterprise High School (Alabama)
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Enterprise High School is a public high school at 500 East Watts Street in Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama, in the Enterprise City School District. The school houses grades 10-12.
[edit] March 2007 Tornado
On March 1, 2007, Enterprise High School was hit by an F4 tornado during the February-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak. The tornado collapsed parts of the building's science wing, third hallway, new gym, and caused severe damage in other areas of the school. The parking lot designated "Blue" was severely damaged, with cars stacked on each other. Cars in the other school parking lots were also damaged. Early news reports indicate that 20% of the building was damaged, and numerous students were injured. The Birmingham News[1] reported 8 fatalities at the school as of 8:30 p.m. CST the evening of the storm; earlier reports had set the death toll as high as 15, later scaled down to five. The death toll was increased again the following day to eight as recovery efforts went onward. These included Ryan Mohler, Peter Dunn, Andrew Jackson, Jamie Vidensek, Michael Bowen, Mikey Tompkins , Katie Strunk, and Michelle Wilson. [2] It was the first killer tornado at a US school since 1990. A student told of how she was rescued by Andrew (A.J.) Jackson who held up the pillar up for her before he was crushed by the falling ceiling.
After the tornado, the school was relocated to Enterprise-Ozark Community College, where it will remain until the rebuilding is complete.
In response to the tornado, Rachael Ray paid all catering and decorating costs associated with the school's annual senior prom event (which was subsequently featured on the April 30, 2007 episode of her television show). After a night of dancing to the music of a DJ, Rachel Ray surprised students by arranging an unexpected musical performance by Mandy Moore.
On May 3, 2007, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Skyline Drive, Course of Nature, May-Day, and Brandon Kelly set up Band-Aid Benefit Concert sponsored by 106.7 WKMX in Fort Rucker, Alabama to help raise money for the high school. Along with the The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Course of Nature, Melissa Joan Hart supported husband, Mark Wilkerson of CON and the high school.
The city of Enterprise recently approved the rebuilding of Enteprise High School at a new location on the northwestern side of town off of Boll Weevil Circle, the city's main bypass. The school will be constructed with more than $45 million in FEMA, insurance settlements, and state approved grant money.
