Roof collapse caught on tape when Birmingham, Alabama neighborhood is hit by possible tornado; Photojournalist Scott MacDowell and reporter Kaitlin McCulley share the story

A severe storm suddenly hit Birmingham, Alabama early Monday morning. Residents believe it was a tornado.

Homeowner Clint Thornton was being interviewed on his front porch by CNN affiliate WIAT when the ceiling of his home suddenly caved in. Photojournalist Scott MacDowell was taping the interview when the sudden tornado and heavy rain collapsed the roof. Reporter Kaitlin McCulley was also on the porch when it happened. While no one was injured, it was all caught on video. The WIAT news team that captured this extraordinary moment joins “Early Start” live from Birmingham this morning.

“You don’t see that type of that thing happen in an interview,” MacDowell says. “There was a lot of praying to God immediately after that.” Hitting a community that is used to keeping weather radios on and usually on guard for extreme weather, the sudden tornado shook everyone involved.  “It just took everyone by surprise,” McCulley says.