We will never forget when Mike started his job in Louisiana!! His first day was on April 28th, and so he left on the 27th to go check in to the hotel room and get a good night sleep. We knew storms were coming, but honestly had no idea of the severity of what was about to happen! We had gone into Fultondale to run some errands and said good bye to Daddy from there. On our way home the wind was fierce and was pulling the car all over the place and it was difficult to keep it in our lane! Debris was flying through the air all around us. We watch Storm Chasers and had some idea of what all this meant and I was more anxious than ever to get into the safety of our basement!!
We made it home without incident and only came home to the electricity being out. We gathered up the animals, some games, flashlights, and radio and we all headed into the basement. It was surreal listening to it on the radio. Hearing the size and ferocity of this F5 storm as it tore through our state. The sirens seemed to be nonstop for a long time. When it seemed the worst had passed (and thank God did not hit us directly), we headed back upstairs. I was unable to call Mike to tell him what was going on since we had no cell coverage or phone service at all.
Poor Mike listened to this his whole trip to LA, knowing we were driving right there too. When he checked in to the hotel he saw horrendous images on the news of Birmingham and surrounding areas being pummelled by this monster of a storm. He was unable to reach us and was understandably freaked! To hear the sound of relief when I finally was able to reach him was priceless :)
We ventured out the following day and were astonished by what we saw. Whole neighborhoods GONE!!! Clothes and personal property flying all over the place---across the roads, hanging from trees (both ones still left standing and all the ones thrown all over the ground), power lines and metal towers broken or bent in half like they were made out of paper. We drove around with our jaws dropped, tears in our eyes, prayers on our lips, and a sickness in our hearts!
The following several posts are from pics I took in Tuscaloosa, AL (the worst hit area in AL). I know they are disturbing, but that is the sad truth of a tornado!
We will never forget our last month in AL. I am glad we were here to help out in what way we could. I already had a bunch of stuff to donate, and felt even better about giving it to those that lost everything!!! I can not even imagine! It was interesting when we went to Cullman (another area very badly hit) and in Wal Mart where you usually see summer things, movies, and popular items for sale right when you walk in---that was all replaced with pots and pans, coffee makers, bedding, etc. People were loading up on it too and it was sad to think of the loss! Of course, that is all STUFF and can be replaced thank God---but the life that was lost too is heart breaking!!
After the earthquakes in Japan not long ago, we started praying for the people in the next disaster as it seemed pointless to be praying for those that had already perished in a disaster (we did continue to pray for those who survived), so we targeted the next one as God surely knows where and when that will take place. We prayed for salvation to come to those who would die and for them to be prepared and ready when that day came. We had no way of knowing that we were praying for people right here in our own community!!
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