To prevent the possibility of looting during the night, the city of Tuscaloosa will implement a 10 p.m. curfew tonight and an 8 p.m. curfew Friday for affected areas. Except for emergency personnel, no one will be allowed outside at these sites until 6 a.m. the following days.

These steps are taken to ensure the safety and welfare of residents, said Police Chief Steven Anderson.

Five hundred additional National Guard personnel and 400 police officers will be brought in to help with curfew enforcement, and violators will be charged with a misdemeanor, Anderson said.

In a press conference at 7 p.m. Thursday, Mayor Walt Maddox said that, as of 6 p.m., there were 37 confirmed deaths in the Tuscaloosa area. Maddox said 798 people were injured as a result of the tornado that struck Wednesday afternoon, and one person is still missing.

“There is large debris that is out there, and it is going to require the use of cadaver dogs to continue the process of search and recovery,” Maddox said.

Four aid stations are going to be set up around the city at the following locations: Leland Shopping Center, Locklear Dodge, the fire logistics center and Skyland Elementary School.

Other concerns include water quality for those east of McFarland Boulevard and south of the river due to the low flow of water because of two non-operational city water towers. Maddox said while the city does not believe the water is contaminated, they recommend residents boil their water before using it for drinking, brushing teeth or bathing. Maddox encouraged people in the affected areas to comply with this recommendation, if possible.

However, he also acknowledged that some may have difficulties following the recommendation, as 42,561 homes remain without power in Tuscaloosa. He said the city is trying to get additional water into these areas.

Maddox said more than 850 people volunteered to help in the recovery effort Thursday.

“And to see strangers and neighbors come together to clear debris and search for items that are missing from their homes…” he said. “They continue to be a source of inspiration for all of us.”

Maddox said it won’t be the city, the state of Alabama or even the federal government, with Obama’s impending visit, that will bring Tuscaloosa through this.

“What will see us through this will be the spirit and resiliency of our citizens,” Maddox said. “It’s on display across our city, and although tonight you look at a very tragic situation, I still have a confidence that a new day will dawn for our city”