No Direction Home
"I was driving down McFarland at night and there were no lights, it was pitch black. I couldn't see 20 feet in front of me, even with headlights on." - Beth Lindly, Dateline Alabama Staff
As the clouds receded from the darkened sky on the afternoon of April 27, 2011, University of Alabama students and Tuscaloosa residents stood in awe of the immense destruction left by the EF4 tornado that swept through the city earlier that day. Students were highly encouraged to leave the campus they had finally grown to call home, but due to the numerous road closures, traffic congestion and fuel shortages, scores found themselves unable to return to the one they had left the previous fall. Worse still, many off-campus residents were devastated to learn that they no longer had a home at all.
The storm destroyed parts of the city, but for many it also destroyed their peace of mind. After just 91 minutes, Tuscaloosa and its inhabitants were shaken to the core, silenced in the aftermath by the solemn realization that the only available course of action was to stand up, sort through the rubble and rebuild.
The storm destroyed parts of the city, but for many it also destroyed their peace of mind. After just 91 minutes, Tuscaloosa and its inhabitants were shaken to the core, silenced in the aftermath by the solemn realization that the only available course of action was to stand up, sort through the rubble and rebuild.
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Allie Shepard was a junior at the University of Alabama during the tornado. She was at the Woodlands Apartments at the time. She recalls hearing the news coverage, taking shelter during the storm and the devastation afterward.
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Dr. Dianne Bragg was not in town during the tornado. But having her family out of the way did not stop her from feeling fear for those still in her neighborhood.
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