'Jesus was here': Former Alabama player shares his family's April 27, 2011 tornado survival story
It was ten years ago yesterday that they felt fear. It was ten years ago yesterday that they also felt God鈥檚 Grace. Now that it鈥檚 been ten years since April 27th, 2011, they have decided to speak out.
This is the most incredible, spine chilling, unfathomable story that you have ever heard. Until now.
Life was good for Wesley and Katie Britt on April 27th, 2011. Wesley, the former Crimson Tide lineman, was back in Tuscaloosa after being released by the New England Patriots. The Cullman native was busy at his alma mater studying for his MBA. Katie Britt, married to Wesley for three years, was in her first semester at the university鈥檚 School Of Law. The kids? Bennett had turned two nine days earlier, Ridgeway had turned one thirteen days before that.
Wesley and Katie watched the TV news, and they looked around the house. Their home on 1st Avenue, near University Place Elementary, did not have a basement. Katie鈥檚 sisters Janie and Jackson were at the house, as well as family friend Rob. Five adults and two young children were a bit confused about where to seek shelter.
The power went out as the sound of the freight train grew louder. They all gathered in a small area between two closets. Wesley blocked the openings with bureaus and grabbed a large mattress. The 6-foot-8, 330 pound former lineman curled the mattress and covered everyone as best he could. The sound and the air were unlike anything Wesley and Katie had ever heard, ever felt.
鈥淚t sounded like we were in a washing machine鈥�, said Katie. 鈥淐hug, Chug.鈥� Wesley tells me, 鈥淚t was a strange roar, and our ears popped.鈥� 鈥淪trangely, our two-year-old and our one-year-old didn鈥檛 cry.鈥� 鈥淚nstead we all prayed and sang, 鈥楯esus Loves Me鈥�.鈥�
The tornado hit their house hard. Thirty seconds felt like an hour. Wesley was hit in the forehead by something hard. He didn鈥檛 know what it was, but it hurt. It was almost as if something-or someone- had knocked some sense into him.
The monster was having his way as Katie held Ridgeway, Katie鈥檚 sister Jackson held Bennett. And Katie鈥檚 other sister, Janie? She was holding onto Wesley鈥檚 leg as she saw Wesley being lifted from the ground. Yet, children continued not to cry, but rather to sing. 鈥淛esus loves me, this I know鈥︹�
Five adults and two children looked up. The entire second floor of the house had been blown away. Wesley looked down to see what had left the bruise on his forehead. His heart raced as he saw what hit him: It was a Bible, and it did not belong to him. 鈥淔or the Bible tells me so鈥︹�
Wesley looked outside to witness complete destruction. Katie examined the children. Not a scratch. Not a whimper. It was almost as if they were comforted by something- or someone. 鈥淟ittle ones to Him belong鈥︹�
It was two weeks after the most frightening moment of their lives. Katie was driving as two-year-old Bennett sat in the borrowed car seat.
鈥淲here did Jesus go?鈥� Bennett asked Katie. 鈥淛esus is always here with you,鈥� responded Katie. 鈥淛esus was here, but Jesus go bye-bye鈥�, said Bennett. Katie pulled the car to the side of the road. 鈥淎re you saying that Jesus was with you?鈥� Katie asked her daughter. 鈥淵es, mama," replied Bennett. 鈥淲hen was He with you?鈥� asked Katie. Said Bennett, 鈥淚n the tornado. Jesus played with me and Ridgeway.鈥�
A chill went up Katie鈥檚 spine. It was Him who had comforted the children. 鈥淭hey are weak, but He is strong鈥︹�
Life is good for the Britts, as the family lives in Montgomery. Wesley works for Alabama Power. Katie is the president of the Business Council Of Alabama. Bennett and Ridgeway are in the sixth and fifth grades.
Why has it taken so many years for this power couple to speak out? 鈥淭o be honest," Wesley tells me, 鈥淚 often wondered why we were spared while so many others were not. I wanted to make sure that the families who lost loved ones received support.鈥�
After ten years of giving thanks, the Britt鈥檚 are happy, yet humble. I asked Wesley if has had time to figure out why his family lived. 鈥淚t鈥檚 God Grace. He was comforting my children during the tornado- that鈥檚 why they never cried.鈥�
And that Bible that came from who-knows-where that bashed him in the forehead? 鈥淚t was God鈥檚 way of renewing my faith- His way to remind me to follow Him.鈥� 鈥淚t was a painful way to remind me, but it worked.鈥� Ten years later, the Britt鈥檚 have learned to laugh. 鈥淵es, Jesus loves me鈥︹�
Ten years later, the Britt鈥檚 have learned to spread the Word. 鈥淵es, Jesus loves me鈥︹�
Ten years later, the Britt鈥檚 have shared the most incredible, spine chilling, unfathomable story that you have ever heard. Until now.
Why? 鈥淭he Bible told them so鈥︹�