It is safe to say that residents of Tuscaloosa know a thing or two about tornadoes. Nearly six months ago, Tuscaloosa took the brunt of one of the worst storm systems to ever hit the United States.
April 28th, thousands of us awoke in confusion and disarray. Gone were the roads we once knew. Gone were the houses many of us called home. As we began putting the pieces of our home back together, the help poured in. People from all across the state and nation came with two hands and a willingness to help.
I remember working at a volunteer tent last April and asking each person where they were from. While most were from Tuscaloosa, many came from unaffected areas of the state that saw the damage on television and made the drive down for the day to see where they could pitch in. Residents of Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and even Auburn came in waves to clean debris, disperse supplies and organize relief stations.
Though it is very clear Tuscaloosa has a long way to go towards recovery, the strides made have been astounding. We would not be where we are today without the help of our neighbors.
Monday morning, déjà vu occurred in Alabama. The same siren we heard on that cool afternoon in April sounded, and the familiar voice of James Spann echoed in people’s living rooms.
Monday’s storm came through much of central Alabama. An 82-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl have been confirmed dead, and over 100 are reported injured in the Birmingham area.
More than 200 houses have been destroyed or badly damaged in the town of Clay alone.
If anybody can relate to a town destroyed by Mother Nature, it’s the residents of Tuscaloosa. As we all know, there is nothing quite like viewing the damage of a tornado. The pictures and videos truly don’t do it justice.
It is time to repay the favor. Call it karma. Call it a call to action. Call it whatever you want. The city of Clay needs our help. I encourage all UA students to help those affected by the recent storm. If you are a student leader on this campus, this is a perfect opportunity to mobilize your group members and help those in their most vulnerable condition.
What these people are doing right now is something many of us are well versed in. I never knew how to operate a chainsaw before April 28th. Conversely, I never knew how much I appreciated power and hot water before they were taken away from me.
Raise money, send supplies, send a bus full of volunteers, do anything to show our neighbors that we understand what they are going through. As student organization leaders, you have countless connections and resources that can make a significant difference in people’s lives.
People in our state need our help. Don’t let this opportunity pass you up.
Jake Gray is a senior majoring in economics and journalism. His column runs on Tuesdays.
