Recovery Begins
"We would just walk through people's backyards and ask if they needed anything. We would cut up trees or remove debris, and months later a man sent us a thank you note saying how much our help meant to him."
- Kayla Lloyd - Tuscaloosa native
In the wake of the national disaster that ripped open the heart of Tuscaloosa, students and residents wandered through the wastelands that were once neighborhoods to sort through debris and look for survivors. As officials responded to the destruction, state and national disaster relief teams began to clear the rubble. The city received $2.1 million in government funds to aid recovery efforts, while volunteer groups and nonprofits worked to rebuild homes for those who lost theirs. Slowly, hope began to sprout from the desolation.
Today, many newcomers may not even notice the areas hardest hit by the April 27, 2011, tornado. The city has spent the past three years rebuilding and developing the programs and infrastructure necessary to help Tuscaloosa residents move forward. Its mission to become stronger, safer and smarter seeks to ensure that in the unspeakable case of another tornado, it will be more prepared.
The 2014 senior class at The University of Alabama, for the most part, will be the last class to have experienced the killer storm that destroyed the city on that April afternoon three years ago. Some incoming freshmen dare to ask why severe weather guidelines are included on every class syllabus. It is up to survivors to tell their stories and remind the city of the horror, hope and growth it has seen over the past three years. Tuscaloosa has proven its resilience and strength as a community, but this badge is only visible in memory of what was lost.
Today, many newcomers may not even notice the areas hardest hit by the April 27, 2011, tornado. The city has spent the past three years rebuilding and developing the programs and infrastructure necessary to help Tuscaloosa residents move forward. Its mission to become stronger, safer and smarter seeks to ensure that in the unspeakable case of another tornado, it will be more prepared.
The 2014 senior class at The University of Alabama, for the most part, will be the last class to have experienced the killer storm that destroyed the city on that April afternoon three years ago. Some incoming freshmen dare to ask why severe weather guidelines are included on every class syllabus. It is up to survivors to tell their stories and remind the city of the horror, hope and growth it has seen over the past three years. Tuscaloosa has proven its resilience and strength as a community, but this badge is only visible in memory of what was lost.
Recovery Stories
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Instead of taking cover in the lowest floor of Rose Administration, Dr. Judy Bonner went straight to the university relations office to stay updated. She reveals the logic behind the administrative decisions made after the devastation and loss of six UA students. Bonner was named president of the University of Alabama in the fall of 2012.
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During the tornado, Krispy Kreme was destroyed. However, Evan Smith, founder of Krispy Kreme in Tuscaloosa, was determined to bring it back. One year after the tornado, Smith brought the "newest, baddest, most up-to-date Krispy Kreme."
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