I have posted actually on a website I follow and I recapped my days adventures as well. This is all pertaining to the tornadoes which swept through Alabama Wednesday, April 27th, 2011. 6 days after my sweet Ariana's birthday. Here is what I wrote today and I will post the old one at the bottom.
I was so very proud to give from my stockpile for the tornado victims in Alabama. But, I felt like I needed to do more to help those in need. My church announced Friday night that cleanup would begin in Tuscaloosa Saturday morning. I was unable to go but my twin brother and father went with their tractor. Sean told me the news did not come close to showing the devastation the tornados wrecked on Alabama.
This morning, church was cut short and members were urged to help with cleanup efforts. We were divided up among members and were assigned Forest Lakes Subdivision in Tuscaloosa. It is about an hour and a half drive from my hometown. On the way, you could tell where the tornado crossed over I59 several times. These trees in no way prepared me for what I would see in a few short miles.
McFarland Blvd is famous for the University of Alabama football but it has become infamous with the tornado damage. As we got off the interstate, I couldn't see any damage. I was like, ok, it may be a little further down or maybe it isn’t too bad here. Traffic was horrendous! I thought it was due to traffic lights being out of order, but it was the people who were coming to check out the damage. Time began to slow as we drove further into the heart of T-Town. I began to see the tops of trees missing, as if someone had sawed the tops off.
The first house I saw was shocking. I had never seen tornado damage in person. As we continued down the street, the road narrowed with huge oaks, pines, and debris on the shoulders. Power lines were twisted into sticks and lines lay across cars and yards. What was left of the houses were covered with blue tarps and markings on the doors. We later found out the markings meant if the house had been searched, who did the search, and how many bodies were found in the house. Most houses had begun the cleanup effort and we drove around with 9 people in our truck looking for a place to help.
After driving for 15 minutes in the total ruin of this subdivision, we found a house that had not been cleaned. A man was in the window looking around at what was left. I immediately jumped out of the car and asked if we could help him in any way. He gratefully said he would love to have help. For 4 hours, we removed what was left of the house's possessions and removed the roof, from the house across the street, from the front porch of his home.
Even though we were sweaty and hot, we were never without. Complete strangers walked the streets with wagons full of water and food. Even a nurse was walking around asking if someone needed a tetanus shot after stepping on nails (and quite a few people did). To see the love and outpouring of a state brought tears to my eyes. To have people drop whatever they are doing to help anyone in need brought hope into the eyes of victims.
Words cannot even begin to describe the wreckage of this city. My husband witnessed cadaver dogs searching homes around the lake, while police officers search the banks of the lake. The city has made plans to drain the lake, to recover those who were not as fortunate that day. 400 people are still missing in the Tuscaloosa area and many more are missing around the state.
As we left our subdivision to return home, we took a main highway back to McFarland. I thought I had seen the worst of what I could see. I did not know I had just seen the beginning. The homes across the lake were completely destroyed and heartbreaking to see. On 15th Street, I saw concrete building turned to dust. I saw cars which had been picked up from across town. I saw businesses that didn't have a dent, while its neighbor was completely gone. I sat in shock at all that was lost. But, on the corner of this street, a BBQ joint had its catering truck out, cooking food for any who needed it. I saw a tent, with stacks of water bottle, boxes of clothes, and person products for anyone who needed it to come and look. As I saw these things, I began to see the victims with smiles on their faces and hope once again in their eyes. Because of people like you and me, they can rise from the ashes and rebuild what was lost. We will never forget those that were lost, but we can move on to a better tomorrow.
As seen on iheartpublix.com
I find it hard to write and express what has happened to the south two days ago (today is April 29). I live in a small town in Alabama, located in Shelby County. Wednesday schools were let out early (I am doing my internship at a local school) and I picked my children up from daycare. We arrived home and we all took a nap. Weather in Alabama can be bad but for the most part, severe weather usually means a severe thunderstorm or a barely formed tornado.
My husband called my cell and informed me a tornado had ripped through Cullman, Alabama, a city located 50 miles to our north. I immediately knew today's storm were nothing like we have seen this year. My children and I went to my mother's house for basement protection. I sat in horror as I watched a tornado tear through downtown Tuscaloosa. The same tornado went barreling through Birmingham, 30 miles to our north.
Words can not describe the helplessness I felt for those who had lost everything. I cried with my family and prepared for what would surely be heading our way. Hours past and storm after storm went to our north or just to our south. I went to bed in shock at what had just transcended on my home state.
The next morning, as I prepared for school, I watched the news in absolute horror as picture after picture and video after video was shown from the storms and what devastation they caused. A second grade teacher at the school was not as fortunate as my town and county were. She lost her whole house and barely escaped with her life!
Throughout the day, we saw more and more pictures coming from towns wiped clean off the map forever. I saw a posting on Facebook of a local church accepting donations for tornado victims. All day I knew I would take my old baby clothes to the shelter. On my way home, it hit me, I have been couponing for over a year and have a huge stash of food and health and beauty items!
I ran into my home with joy filling my heart. I knew how I could help. I stuffed 10 bags full of non perishables and boxes full of personal items. Toilet paper, feminine projects, toothpaste, deodorant...the list goes on of things I had in my home that could benefit someone who had lost everything.
I have been couponing to prepare for any kind of disaster that may befall my family or if my husband lost his job. I never thought about helping others with couponing. But, because of saving so much money on everyday items we take for granted, I was able to provide a little comfort, be it food or just some nice shampoo, for those who have nothing to call their own.
It will take months and years for people to rebuild and begin to feel a sense of well being and to once feel the ownership of homes and items they cherish dearly. Hundreds are still missing in Alabama but we will recover from the most horrific scene to destruction, as neighbor and neighbor begin helping one another to start a better tomorrow. Continue to pray for those all over the South went have had everything torn away from them. Know you can help by couponing to buy items needed by those who need it most.
