May 2, 2011
By Mary Browning – AAV (Advocates for Violence)
Ohatchee Alabama has a population of approximately 1,200 residents. On April 27, 2011 one of the multiple tornadoes that ripped through Alabama affected the humble people living in Ohatchee. Total Alabama fatalities are 251; an overall fatality count comes to 342 people across the South affected by these horrendous storms.
Tuscaloosa Alabama was the strongest and most published tornado that struck Alabama last week; however, many of the less published tornado damage goes un-noticed by many across the country. Ohatchee is one of the many less publicized towns covered by the media; also including a smaller neighboring community by the name of Pleasant Valley (near Piedmont – Jacksonville area in Alabama).
Ohatchee reports 9 fatalities across Calhoun County (includes Ohatchee, Pleasant Valley, Piedmont, Jacksonville, Oxford, and Anniston – to name a few). Currently, the media reports at least 4 of the 9 fatalities were in Ohatchee.
Lake Neely Henry in Ohatchee and Nesbit Lake Road in Pleasant Valley Alabama were among the tornado paths’ damages. The devastation and loss of lives and homes in these areas is similar to a war zone. The local authorities and volunteers congest the areas blocking access to anyone looking to “sight-see” the damages. Local authorities request that anyone not living in these areas try to refrain from visiting the damage sites – volunteers need access to help the residents pick up the pieces – they have suffered a horrendous loss.
According to USA Today, the fatalities in Ohatchee were near the Lake Neely Henry area; these residents perished in the storm while in their own homes (Keen & USA Today, 2011).
Other areas affected by the tornadoes were Shoal Creek near Ohatchee – trees were uprooted, homes destroyed and there are signs of extensive damages to the area. We tried to ride around the area to see some of the damage; however, closed roads to the public is limited to those helping clear debris, volunteers, and local authorities, because the residents need assistance and admission of public is extremely limited. Living in Alabama on and off the majority of my life, I have not seen damage of this magnitude from a tornado. The tornadoes path demolished so many homes and it will take time for people to recover from the damages.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Read more: Anniston Star - entry FBI Issues Tornado Relief Fraud Alert
"State Rep. Blaine Galliher, who represents Etowah and St. Clair Counties in the Alabama House, reports that St. Clair, Calhoun and Etowah counties received the designation for “individual assistance disaster” Saturday night.
For details on what this means, see: Individual disaster designation expected Monday
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The Talladega County chapter of the American Red Cross encourages baseball fans to buy tickets for the Birmingham Barons home game on June 10.
Tickets are $20, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Red Cross locally.
For more information, call the Talladega County Red Cross at 256-362-2061.
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VFW Post 4261, 67185 Alabama 77, Talladega, is accepting donations for storm victims in Ohatchee. For more information, call 256-362-0481.
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Anyone who would like to volunteer to help in Pratt City, Munford Baptist Church will have a team leaving the church at 6:30 a.m. Monday. You don’t have to be a member of the church to volunteer.
For more info please call the church office at 256-358-4536 or Tim Thomas at 256- 591-2534 or email jerrydean@munfordbaptist.com.
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The Riverside Storm Shelter has nonperishable food items and water available for residents of Riverside in need.
The pavilion and playground adjacent to Riverside City Hall is closed until further notice due to hanging limbs and other debris from storm damage.
Riverside residents may bring tree debris (limbs, branches, leaves) to the designated area in the northwest corner of Coleman Park on Depot Street. The designated area has tape around it. No construction or other house debris is allowed at that area.
Riverside residents are also encouraged to stack debris in neat piles along the street, but not blocking the street. Construction and house debris should be stacked separate from tree debris. Any residents able to take tree debris to the designated Coleman Park area are encouraged to do so.
— Elsie Hodnett
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The American Red Cross designated shelter for all displaced residents in St. Clair County is Ashville Middle School, 33221 Highway 231, Ashville.
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Any resident of Talladega County who suffered damage from the storms of April 27 should report that damage to the Talladega County EMA as soon as possible, says Public Information Officer Steve Dover. To report damage, call 256-761-2125.
Dover says it is important that all storm related damage be reported locally so that information can be passed onto the state EMA and FEMA.
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As communities in Alabama work to recover from the devastating storms of the past few days, those affected are in our prayers.
If you've been affected by these storms, please call FEMA at 800-621-3362 for assistance.
If you can pitch in to help, please donate or volunteer your time by visiting www.redcross.org.
Thank you,
Jim Messina, Campaign Manager, Obama for America
***
The Talladega Junior Welfare League has teamed up with the Talladega County Revenue Office, the United Way and the Red Cross to collect items for those displaced by the tornadoes.
According to League President Jennifer Peters, members will be collecting donations at the Revenue Office on Tuesday. They will then work with a volunteer coordinator to determine which specific items are needed at which shelters, and then see that they are delivered there.
Currently, they are not asking for donations of clothing, but are looking for such items as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, combs, shampoo, bottled water, baby wipes, diapers, baby food, formula, canned foods, can openers, plastic forks and spoons, new blankets, new pillows, paper towels, toilet paper and prepackaged snacks.
Peters said most of the attention was being paid to Cullman and Tuscaloosa, but she said the league would be focusing on those in neighboring counties such as St. Clair and Calhoun first, then sending the rest to the larger sites.
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Tina Williams, owner of Tina’s home cooking in Talladega, is collecting clothes, blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste and other personal items for those still living in shelters in Birmingham. She plans to deliver the collected goods Wednesday.
Donations can be dropped off at Tina’s Home Cooking on East Street North across from the public parking lot.
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Tommy Davis of Davis Carpet, 59400 Alabama 77, Talladega, is filling a large enclosed container truck with various necessities for tornado victims. Davis says he hopes to deliver the goods in the next week or so, as soon as the truck is full.
Davis said the business will jumpstart the process by buying 50 cases of bottled water. Donations of everything from ice to chainsaws are encouraged.
Angeal Johnson wrote:
"We at Davis Carpet Serv is setting up a drop off point for the storm victims. We are gonna fill our freight truck & deliver. I will post a list at http://www.facebook.com/l/16d0f/ later. It will be in the Daily Home (Saturday). Put yourself in their shoes Let's everyone help out with this loss. Cell #'s: Tommy 256-310-8803, Holt 256-223-6053, Terry 256-310-8803 or Angeal 256-493-4964."
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Christ Church in Odenville is funneling donations and coordinating relief efforts in the Shoal Creek community.
“Our focus is on Shoal Creek Road,” said Chris King, a deacon at Christ Church. “But we will do whatever we can to help anyone in the community.”
King said the church is helping coordinate food, donations, cleanup workers and more.
He said the church is nonprofit, and donations are tax deductible.
For more information or to donate call 205-924-3276 or visit http://www.christchurchbranchcove.com.
— Elsie Hodnett
***
The Greater Talladega Area/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce advises that donations of nonperishable items for disaster relief may be dropped off at the vacant lot next door to Townsend’s Lamps & Gifts and The Townsend Warehouse on 206 West Coosa Street in Talladega during the following hours:
Monday 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Tuesday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Needed items include:
Baby food, diapers, water, flashlights, batteries, clean clothes
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Bentley opens phone line to answer storm queries
MONTGOMERY (AP) — Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has activated a "response center" in the state Capitol for residents to call with questions concerning the storms that have ravaged the state this week.
Bentley said people seeking answers to questions concerning the storm and resources that might be available to them can call 1-866-465-2241. Bentley said calls to the center would be answered from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
Bentley said people who want to volunteer to help with recovery efforts or who want to make a donation should call the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at 877-273-5018.
The governor said he hopes having the phone number available will help people in areas hit by the storms.
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Talladega Superspeedway has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in storm relief. The Superspeedway invites local race fans to join in the relief effort by driving your car around the track 9 a.m.-2 p.m. May 6-8 for a $50 donation. Cash and checks will be accepted at the gate.
All cars must be street legal and have seatbelts for all passengers. No motorcycles or RVs.
***
The Daily Home offices in Talladega and Sylacauga and the Daily Home and St. Clair Times office in Pell City are collecting monetary donations for tornado victims on behalf of the American Red Cross.
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All Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union branches are collection points for non-perishable items for Alabama tornado disaster victims. Donations can be dropped off at CPFCU branches at:
Sylacauga, 255 James Payton Blvd.
Pell City, 2708 Stemley Bridge Road;
Childersburg, 17591 Plant Road
Chelsea, Suite 190 Chelsea Corners (Winn Dixie) Shopping Center
Roebuck, 524 Red Lane Road, Suite B
Items will be collected until Friday, May 6.
Immediate needs are blankets, laundry supplies, personal hygiene items, feminine products, diapers and wipes, baby food, bandages and First Aid items, socks, bottled water, non-perishable food items (packaged), individually packaged juice, paper towels, tissues and toilet paper.
Monetary donations also accepted.
***
Anheuser-Busch is delivering drinking water in cases of 12-oz. cans to its beer distributors in storm-ravaged states.
Alabama Budweiser distributors in Birmingham, Muscle Shoals and Tuscaloosa will receive water today for use by families affected by the severe weather and the relief workers.
Birmingham Budweiser Distributing Co., 141 Industrial Drive, Birmingham
Shoals Distributing Inc., 100 Commerce St., Muscle Shoals
Greene Beverage Co. Inc., 6000 Grover Burchfield Dr., Tuscaloosa
***
Jacksonville State University is fully operational and back on our normal schedule. The first wave of storms took out our website and email, but all hardware and software repairs have been made.
The JSU Department of University Housing and Residence Life has a small number of spaces available to temporarily house individuals within the JSU family who have been displaced due to property loss. Anyone in need of assistance should come to the Housing Office, 103 Bibb Graves Hall between the hours of 8-4:30. This space is available immediately. (NOTE: We have already identified several employees who experienced total loss of their homes; however, I do not know if any have come forward to seek shelter at this time)
The JSU Student Government Association is also collecting clothing, household goods, and nonperishable food items daily from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Office of Student Life on the 4th floor of the Theron Montgomery Buildlng. These items will be delivered to the local Red Cross recovery efforts (Daily Home, 2011).
Read more: The Daily Home - STORM DAMAGE CENTRAL
References:
Anniston Star. (2011, May 2). Anniston Star - entry FBI Issues Tornado Relief Fraud Alert . Anniston Star - Local News, Business, Sports, Events, Blogs, Videos, Podcasts. Retrieved May 2, 2011, from http://www.annistonstar.com/pages/full_story/push?blog-entry-FBI+Issues+Tornado+Relief+Fraud+Alert%20&id=12997899&instance=gamecock
Daily Home. (2011, May 2). The Daily Home - STORM DAMAGE CENTRAL. The Daily Home - Local News, Business, Sports, Events, Blogs, Videos, Podcasts - Talladega and St. Clair counties. Retrieved May 2, 2011, from http://dailyhome.com/bookmark/12944079/article-STORM+DAMAGE+CENTRAL?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4dbe8768cfa7beba%2C0
Keen, J., & USA Today. (2011, May 2). Hurting Alabama town of Ohatchee digs out - USATODAY.com. News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Retrieved May 2, 2011, from http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/2011-05-01-alabama-recovery_N.htm?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dbe1e2b87990052%2C2
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