Tornados in Alabama - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Dreamers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tornados in Alabama

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

A very dear friend of ours and Janet's friend since childhood is in Tuscaloosa. We could not get hold of them yesterday but today the phone lines are working and she is OK. The office where she works is gone along with the fast food place next door. Thankfully, see is safe but she says the destruction is mind boggling. Best wishes to everyone in the area as well as those effected throughout the S as this massive storm swept through.

Melstar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Prayers are going up for everyone whose had to endure the last few weeks of horrific weather. I pray that it's over and bright sunshine will return and there will be no more flooding as well.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I heard an interview with one gentlemen, he was secure in a fortified shed but watched his house go. He said one minute it was there and then in a wink it was gone. Nothing left but the foundation.

I can't imagine how devestating this is for everyone.

Caseydee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are in Alabama near Cullman, which took a direct hit in the downtown area. We live 20 miles away and there was lots of damage in the surrounding areas but we are blessed to not have any damage at all. We had to drive north to Huntsville the day of the tornadoes and on our way back home I spotted a 1/2 mile wide solid black tornado no more than 1-2 miles west of us and heading directly towards us. My husband drove like a bat out of hell at 90 mph trying to outrun the tornado. We fortunately got south of it and probably missed being in the middle of all that destruction by only 3-5 minutes. When we drove through Cullman, we found out that the tornado had passed through there only 15 minutes earlier. We are without power and they're predicting it won't be back on for at least a week. We have a truck camper with a generator so we're able to save all our food and all the frozen fish we brought back after spending the winter in the Keys. Gas stations can't pump gas due to lack of electricity but we're ok for now. We feel so blessed because there are 1000's of people who've lost everything they have and so many have died. Last count I heard for Alabama was 196. Please pray for all those unfortunate people who have nothing left.

Tim & Robyn · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm glad you're safe. I just finished cleaning out my PM inbox/outbox and reread some of the notes you sent during my wife's long ordeal. Thanks, and God bless...

Tim Fansler

Caseydee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tim, I think of your wife often & I'm so glad that you're still posting here. I always wish the best for you & hope some day you'll be able to pursue the dream you & Robyn had. Thanks for remembering me.

I just finished cooking a boondocking meal...have never boondocked before! We have a 5th wheel in the Keys & use the truck camper when we come home from the Keys. Thank God it has a generator! I just fixed pork chops w/rice, tomatoes, & black beans in an electric skillet. Apple salad to go with it & having a neighbor over for dinner. WOW! I'm proud of what I was able to put together.

Please continue to pray for all those here in the South who are suffering. I can only hope & pray that those who need help here will receive what was so generously given to New Orleans & Haiti!

Kerri · RV-Dreams Family Member

I live in the Muscle Shoals area in northwest Alabama. It got really bad here Wednesday - it was as dark as night at one point, we spent much of the day in the walk-in closet, and had many limbs down in the yard - but we were spared the worst of it.

My hometown is Bear Creek, AL, and that is 5 miles south and east of two of the hardest hit small towns (Phil Campbell and Hackleburg, respectively). The devastation there is almost indescribable. This area had already been greatly affected by the economy and unemployment, and now this storm has taken such a toll. I do not know if the towns will survive.

Our local paper just published a list of the victims on their website (Times Daily dot com) and I knew many of them. The death toll in Hackleburg/Marion County is expected to rise significantly over the next few days. The damage is so extensive that they are having trouble locating victims. All services have been cut - electricity, water, cell coverage... it is like a war zone. There are several YouTube videos that give an idea of the devastation, but everyone I've spoken with who has witnessed it first hand say the pictures/videos cannot begin to express the magnitude of this disaster. Please keep these areas - and all the areas affected by this tragedy - in your prayers.

Kerri · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is indeed like a war zone in our area. Devastation like I've never witnessed, and hope to never see again. Heartbreaking images every where you turn. Words cannot describe it.

My son is setting up a mobile radio station in Phil Campbell to broadcast information to the victims and volunteers. We are coordinating with the University of North Alabama Communications Dept to request donations of battery-operated radios and batteries to distribute to the victims. Evan will be utilizing an RV to set up the operations and working with a small AM station in the next town - one of the few that broadcasts in this area. Some cell coverage has been restored, but now the system is overwhelmed. As of yesterday, a couple of satellite phones were all that was available for communication transmissions.

The National Guard has arrived to give our WONDERFUL 1st Responders an opportunity to rest and regroup. Towns of approx 1200 citizens do not have much in the way of resources and our locals have been overwhelmed, but they have done an amazing job - could not ask for more dedicated individuals!

Many, many volunteers came out yesterday and more are expected today. Evan has gone back down to Phil Campbell, I am coordinating things on this end. Please pray for the victims and for all the volunteers who are trying to help. The affected areas have a very long road ahead.