Tornado Outbreak Discussion

[AUChase]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

It really does make me sad when I see some of the effected areas.

The less televised areas that got hit hard are some of the worst. Tuscaloosa is bad and there's a lot of focus on it from Home Depot. They run weekly shows and broadcast it to all associated throughout the week and they've spent a lot of time discussing it.

The video floating around of Hackleburg is just devastating. Like 31 of the 35 businesses from that small town are gone, including all that's done to the school. Cordova is the only place I've been to help and it's bad also.

There's just no way to sum up how bad all of these places look.. including the ones I didn't mention like Sipsi, Pratt City, etc.. the pictures don't do any justice at all.

[acts238shaun]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

How are things going down there, guys?

As usual, most news media has moved on and refuses to follow up on stories.

Found out Farmville is pushing that crappy GaGa chick's new album on FB. I hate Farmville, and all FaceBook games to be honest, but Farmville pushed giving to Haiti and Japan but now that Americans need help in Alabama and those along the Mississippi need help they offer nothing. Screw you Farmville and the horse you rode in on! I know this seems like an over-reaction, just gets my goat to see stuff like that.

[Aggies7]

Wish y'all the best of luck down there getting things back to the way they were.

[seasprite]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

It really does make me sad when I see some of the effected areas.

The less televised areas that got hit hard are some of the worst. Tuscaloosa is bad and there's a lot of focus on it from Home Depot. They run weekly shows and broadcast it to all associated throughout the week and they've spent a lot of time discussing it.

The video floating around of Hackleburg is just devastating. Like 31 of the 35 businesses from that small town are gone, including all that's done to the school. Cordova is the only place I've been to help and it's bad also.

There's just no way to sum up how bad all of these places look.. including the ones I didn't mention like Sipsi, Pratt City, etc.. the pictures don't do any justice at all.

I drove through Hackleburg the other day as well as Phil Campbell and you wouldnt recognize it at all. Like I had said days after the storms, the damage line that went through here in North Alabama (the F4 and F5) was about 600-1000 yards from my home. I found out that someone I work with on the Arsenal lived in the houses right here that were completely destroyed. They lost everything and its very sad and also I have bad feelings of guilt because I was so close. Hard to explain and I would agree with Husker and Chase that the pictures really dont tell the whole story. When you see it with your own eyes and see the people directly affected by it, it really is a hard thing to deal with. The one ray of hope and happiness is the response from people and wanting to help your neighbor. I was stationed in Gretna, LA (NOLA) during Katrina and it was a very different environment. The level of "brotherly love" has been on a very different level than it was in the aftermath of Katrina imo.

[jeremym480]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

I drove through Hackleburg the other day as well as Phil Campbell and you wouldnt recognize it at all. Like I had said days after the storms, the damage line that went through here in North Alabama (the F4 and F5) was about 600-1000 yards from my home. I found out that someone I work with on the Arsenal lived in the houses right here that were completely destroyed. They lost everything and its very sad and also I have bad feelings of guilt because I was so close. Hard to explain and I would agree with Husker and Chase that the pictures really dont tell the whole story. When you see it with your own eyes and see the people directly affected by it, it really is a hard thing to deal with. The one ray of hope and happiness is the response from people and wanting to help your neighbor. I was stationed in Gretna, LA (NOLA) during Katrina and it was a very different environment. The level of "brotherly love" has been on a very different level than it was in the aftermath of Katrina imo.

I've been talking to my Mom a lot since the tornado and there is just so many sad stories. You almost can't & don't want to believe them. I posted earlier in this thread about one of the girls that I went to high school with parents getting killed. Come to find out, they stayed in their house and trust me their house was pretty solid. I know because her mom used to babysit me and my brother and sister when we were little. Their house was completely destroyed and is gone now. They found pictures of them in Tennessee. The house across from theirs was a brick house with a basement. There were two more people in the basement of that house. The tornado was so strong that it took their house away and sucked them up from the basement.

That's just one of the many stories that I've heard. I could go on but, I'm sure most people here don't want to here it. I will tell you one thing. Before this I've never been that scared of tornadoes. (I think that I've joked on here with Chase before about my Mom waking us up at all hours and dragging us to the storm cellar) Well, that's no longer the case. I'm a changed person now and I'm now terrified of storms and I didn't even live through this one. Hell, even seen tornado destruction from other places before but, seeing my hometown destroyed like that changed me. At least here in Baton Rouge, tornadoes aren't as bad but, we still get them from time to time. From now on, I don't think I'll be able to sleep through them like I used to.

On to some more positive notes. Originally, the death toll in Hackleburg was up to 35 but, now it's down to 17. It's pretty gruesome but, at first they were finding body parts and logging those as "people". Then once everything settled down they realized some of those parts belonged to the same person therefore, the death toll was reduced. So the positive thing was less people died than they thought originally.

Lastly, they're still getting lots of volunteers from everywhere. My Mom said that Saturday there was more than 1000 people signed up to help. And Sunday was supposed to be a day off because of Mothers Day but, she drove through and could see people working everywhere.

CMT and Brett Favre have both been in Hackleburg this week. I'm sure many of you don't know but, Hackleburg won the "CMT's Best Hometown in America" in 2007. So, that's kind of why they're there. Favre is there in large part because of Wrangler. He signed some autographs and visited the Distribution Center. My Mom said nothing is confirmed yet but, there's talk of him rebuilding the football stadium. I'd probably not dislike him as much if he did do that. However, I know that this is very "brat-like" and selfish but, I really don't want the field that I played on called Brett Favre stadium. But, like acts238shaun said, most of America has moved on so, at least Favre still cares enough to be there and lend his support and for that I appreciate him.

[AUChase]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

My dad and uncle both race at I-22, the drag strip off of the actual I-22 interstate / corridor X on highway 13. Last weekend, they cut the purse in all the racing classes and donated the money to Hackleburg. The good news is, so many have been willing to help.

[NDAlum]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

To speak on a positive:

It shows the true American spirit of wanting to help those that truly need and deserve help. There is no question that all of the help here greatly impacts those who receive it.

I don't think any American is against that as these are all voluntary donations.

[elicoleman]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

Seriously thinking about getting one of these shirts...

http://www.southernrelieftees.com/index.html

100% OF THE PROFITS WILL BE DONATED TO THE RED CROSS

Buy a Tee and 100% of the profit will be donated to the Red Cross to aid the victims of the Aprill 2011 tornadoes.

Southern Strong exemplifies the spirit of the South. We get back up when we've been knocked down, we extend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, & we find strength within ourselves during the hardest times.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Tornado Outbreak Discussion

I bought one of these. 100% of the proceeds go to Tuscaloosa's disaster relief.