The tornados that struck Limestone County included an F5 and an F4.

The storms that hit here during that onslaught — including two back-to-back in Tanner — killed 17, according to a morning-after assessment, including Green’s family members and the wife and two children of Walter McGlocklin, who are also featured in the book.

Levine wrote the book in true disaster account-style but with heart and attention to dramatic detail that will, in all probability, make it a blockbuster. Levine, who teaches poetry for the Iowa Writers Workshop part of the year and writes for The New York Times Magazine and other publications, said the book would likely be made into a mini series, or perhaps a film.

“It’s such a powerful book,” said Katie Finch, director of publicity for Miramax Books, who is preparing for the release and setting Levine’s promotional appearances. As she read, she said, “my heart was pounding in anticipation of the tornadoes.”

This summer, Levine will speak and sign books in cities across the Midwest and the South, including an appearance June 29 at Athens State University.

“He’ll talk about the book, take questions and then sign books,” she said.

For now, “F5” is Miramax’s baby and is being treated accordingly.

“This is our biggest book this summer,” she said. “We believe in its potential to do great things.”

Introducing each of the characters and their situations in turn, Levine sprinkles accounts of historical storms and the history of meteorology into the mix and places the events in historical context by describing major news events of the times: Inflation, Nixon, Patty Hurst and Hank Aaron appear on the radar during the telling.

After the reader comes to know each character, the storms, in their fury and dedication to destruction, strike again, and then again. In their fickleness, they would leave most only with the after effects of terror, while from others they would take homes and belongings, and from still others, their lives.

Why question God?

These days, Ananias Green, retired from Laborers’ International Union of North America, spends quiet weekdays with his wife Sarah and Sundays leading his flock at Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church.

His sons who survived the tornado on April 3, Titus and Ananias Jr., are successful adults.

But he can’t forget Amos, the little boy who was his shadow, who joined him on Wednesday afternoon fishing trips, nor his wife Lillian, who was the perfect pastor’s wife, caring for the children and ensuring her husband was practiced and looking his best come Sundays.