Alberta City in Tuscaloosa is a neighborhood less than two miles from the campus of The University of Alabama. This neigbhorhood is one of the lower-income neighborhoods in Tuscaloosa; many people have no insurance. The city was in the direct path of the tornado and was demolished. When dropping off the supplies in the staging area set up to help those in that area, as well as an area called Holt, which was also in the direct path of the tornado, I met an amazing volunteer, Ed Freeman. He had lived in Atlanta for 20 years, but is a native of Tuscaloosa, so we immediately had many things in common, not the least of which was a great sadness for the destruction which you could see from where we were standing. "
"I have never been so proud to be an Alabamian as I am right now", he said as we talked about how the city and state had pulled together to help one another. Many volunteers were there under tents set up to distribute food, water, baby supplies, and medical care.
The National Guard was stationed there as well - these men and women in uniforms are everyday heros, but today, my heart overflowed with appreciation for their presence, not even an 1/8 mile from my mother's home. I took such comfort in seeing their faces and hugged one of the men handing out ice to anyone who needed it. I stood in silence as I then walked to the perimeter of where Alberta City had once stood - GA Power crews still assisting, on day 12, to fix power lines that were strewn around the streets, polls twisted and piled on the ground. There was nothing left of the area: it was unrecognizable. I could not even make out the street that my grandmother had lived on back in the '70s. The devastating tornado of '74 had barely missed her apartment, demolishing the tire store right beside it. Had she been living there today, she would not have been so lucky.
This was only one neighborhood of 5 in Tuscaloosa that was completely destroyed in the tornado, with piles of rubble where homes and businesses once stood.
At the same time, I have hope and faith in the great community of Tuscaloosa and those areas surrounding it. I know in my heart that people in Alabama and all across the US will rise to help their fellow southerners and fellow Americans. I hold on to this hope and faith when the images of the devastation seep into the corners of my mind.
