Thirty members of the Tuscaloosa Fire Department paired with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild an Alberta home destroyed by the April 27 tornado. They completed the build in only five days, one day less than their original goal.
“We just thought it would be a good idea, with there being so much destruction, to give back,” Lieutenant Ron Kirkland of the TFD said.
Habitat for Humanity works worldwide to ensure that low-income families have a place to live. Ten years ago, the fire department worked with the organization on the renovation of old houses in the Tuscaloosa area.
Similarly, in the wake of last year’s tornado, the department decided to go the extra mile in their service to the community. Once Fire Chief Alan Martin decided it was high time they worked again with the philanthropic organization — Kirkland and Lieutenant Richard Schoolar began organizing the event, which took place during the week of May 21.
The men partnered with the Major League Baseball/State Farm Players Trust, which is providing funds to rebuild homes in Tuscaloosa and Joplin, Mo., to complete a blitz build. The build relies on determined volunteers to assemble an entire house — both interior and exterior — in six days.
“We had been wanting to work with Habitat again,” Martin said. “I thought it would be neat to build a house up from the foundation in a week’s time.”
The firefighters showed up each day and worked continuously from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., only taking a 45-minute break in the afternoon for lunch prepared by the firemen’s wives. The constant dedication to the project made it possible to beat their original six-day goal.
“Everybody that showed up, they showed up to work and I think that made a big difference,” Martin said.
Though she had to take off work to be there, Patrice Johnson, the homeowner, also assisted in the effort. She often brought her four children to the site with her to contribute to the rebuilding.
Johnson’s son and three daughters had been with her when the tornado barreled toward their home. According to a report by Katie Palmer of Habitat for Humanity, the family was in the house because Johnson said she had several chores to do. By the time they realized the tornado was headed straight for them, it was too late. They had no other option but to pray in the bathroom as the house collapsed around them.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, and the family has been living with Johnson’s mother in the intermittent time. They moved into the new house, which is located on the original lot in their old neighborhood, on June 5 after a dedication ceremony.
The success of the project, though, is nothing unusual, according to Lt. Kirkland.
“I think we’ve had a lot of good community reaction,” he said, highlighting the selflessness and willingness of the people of Tuscaloosa to help in the wake of the disaster.
Based on the success of both this project and the rebuilding effort as a whole, this is a trend that can be expected to continue.
“After the tornado, there were so many people both inside and outside Tuscaloosa who came to help,” Martin said. “Everyone was helping everyone. It was a community-wide effort, and this was a continuation of that effort. We’ll definitely be working with Habitat again in the future.”
