Warning: This is not a happy post. There are stories regarding storm victims that are disturbing.
I realize it’s been a few days since I’ve posted anything. Like many of you, I’ve been glued to the television, internet and radio. First I was watching the storms that tracked from Mississippi to Georgia and beyond, then I’ve been desperate for news reports of the aftermath. All of my family and my husband’s family and almost all of our friends, live in some of the hardest hit areas: Tuscaloosa, Jasper and Birmingham. Thankfully all of our family and friends are accounted for and safe. Many of them have extensive damage to their homes and all of them are devastated by the destruction around them.
My mom’s house.
Out of respect for these people, I’m giving the funny a rest for a few days. It seems disrespectful to be trivial and upbeat while so many people have lost everything. Not just their homes. Many have lost jobs– business were obliterated. Daycare centers and schools are gone, thankfully they were empty because schools had closed for the day. Families were literally ripped apart.
My brother lives in Tuscaloosa and his reports from storm victims are gut-wrenching. I spent a good part of the day yesterday searching for national news coverage and only found the same short reel on The Weather Channel, playing over and over again. I ended up on ABC 33/44’s website watching local news coverage because I couldn’t find anything else.
DCH, the hospital closest to the Tuscaloosa devastation, is out of body bags. Bodies line sidewalks in some areas because the morgues are full. A thirteen-year-old student of my brother’s pulled his dead baby cousin out of rubble. One of my brother’s friends pulled a young school aged child out of the rubble where her dead parents still lay. I am heartbroken for these people and the thousands like them across the country. Please pray. PLEASE. PRAY. If you are too far away, or not able to send supplies, donate to the Red Cross, they are helping victims country wide.
I’m sharing with you some of the most impressive footage I’ve seen.
Tuscaloosa Tornado
Cahaba Heights Storm Damage (This is my mother’s neighborhood.)
Tuscaloosa Search & Rescue
If you have stories to share or family you would like me to pray for please leave a comment and I will include them in my prayers.
Oh my word! I did not recognize that as Dolly Ridge until the very end!!!
It is so surreal. Can’t imagine actually being there.
Awful, Robin. Praying for the city and all of those affected.
Thank you Mandy!
I came across this post after reading your post for today, I reconized the hounds tooth ribbon! I live just outside of Cordova (in Walker County where Jasper is) where they were hit twice (once in the morning & again that afternoon) with devistation. The tornado that came through was only about a mile from my home at the closest point. I also have friends & family that live in Tuscaloosa & Cullman that were affected by the storms. I want to say thank you for the prayers & the help that you, your family & friends have given to the victims.