My family is fine in Athens. A 1/2 mile wide EF4 tornado was less than a mile south of us destroying homes and lives in it's path through Limestone, Madison, and surrounding counties. That was just one tornado of many others. We've been busy caring for others in need. For those asking about how to help: a LOT of help is needed and donations to the American Red Cross can be designated for tornado victims. EMS has set up donation sites at area churches and you should be able to google and contact them through their website emails.
Photos and videos are heartbreaking, but cannot be compared to being on the ground. I pray that you never have to look upon it.
Internet connections are slowly coming back and cell phone service is spotty at best as lots of cell towers were destroyed. Trying to contact family members has been difficult and very emotional. Travel to the hardest hit areas is impossible due to road blockages, but clearing and repairs are happening round the clock. Most people have not had electricity since the storms blew through and it will be Tuesday (we hope) before businesses and a very few home will begin to see services return. No electricity also meant that gasoline stations could not sell fuel, grocery stores lost power, and food spoiled, some jobs are lost or will not reopen until power is restored. Hourly workers will have less pay which will add to their hardship. Homeowners who are inexperienced users of generators have had fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Hospitals are full.
The city of Athens was blessed to be spared the widespread area outages. Travelers from across the region (Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Tennessee) came to my hometown to get emergency supplies making traffic jams and 3 hr. lines at the pumps and motorist ran out of fuel trying to get the maximum amount of fuel allowed, sometimes cash only and no change available. The lines have now become much more manageable now that more businesses have equipped themselves with alternative power. I have never seen anything like it before in my lifetime!
Day by day things have improved in the most basic ways.
Neighbor helping neighbor is such a heart-warming sight to see; but that is the way of the good people of North Alabama. I'm proud to be a part of this wonderful community. We thank you for your prayers and any support you feel led to offer, but please do so wisely through the well known organizations that I previously mentioned.
