Posted by: Joanne Tromiczak-Neid, Justice CoordinatorGinger K. Hedstrom, Justice Associate
Since receiving the notice that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Montgomery, Alabama was celebrating its 40th Anniversary April 29-30, we have been planning to be present for the workshops, to meet with staff of the SPLC, to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the National Voting Rights Museum, Selma, Alabama. We left Saint Paul early, Wednesday, April 27th.
By the time we landed in Alabama early yesterday afternoon, it was clear that the weather was turbulent, our flight from Chicago Midway Airport had to divert around storms and still it was so bumpy that the flight attendents sat buckled in their seats the entire flight. Several hours later we were tucked into our hotel in a valley near Hoover, south of Birmingham - restuarnts and businesses were closing, tornado sirens began blaring, the tornadoes were heading our way. We experienced heavy winds and rain, the skies black as night at 7:30 p.m., tree debris scratched our rental car. It was a very tense afternoon and night and that is all it was for us, very tense.
Today, April 28, we heard story after story of the impact on the people with whom we came into contact.
When asked "how are you and your family" and we heard:
1) Hotel housekeeper: I live in Birmingham and we got no 'lectricty and don't know when we will.
2) Woman hotel guest: I manage photography stores. One was destroyed but all my people are okay. I was supposed to go home to Pensacola tonight but can't just yet.
3) Marathon Gas check out: my sister has a tree down on her house, but she is fine staying with her neighbors.
3) Ticket sales clerk at Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: I am fine. The patio door and bay windows in my daughter's house were blown out - her garage door sprung - and all the windows of her car inside the garage blew out. Across the street the houses are gone just gone. She is okay, with friends.
4) Sales clerk Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: Me and my family is fine. We gettin' water and food ready to take to the people who lost everything. We just gotta help them. Did you hear President Obama is coming tomorrow.
5) Manager, Texas Roadhouse Restaurant: She told us that two trucks of food and water were sen up today and we have people in the kitchen now cooking and getting ready to send more up tomorrow and Saturday. We put the food in lunch bags so each survivor or rescuer will have their own bag. We are all family and have to help out. My gramma was killed in a tornado years ago, it is hard to hear my mom tell about it. We just pitch in. When we were delivering the food today, a man told us he went out to clean his yard this morning and found two of his neighbors dead under a pile of debris in his yard. I just can't imagine finding my neighbors like that!
People have been asked to stay out of the area so the emergency crews can get in and begin the recovery. The picture above is one published down here...we have honored the plea for citizens to stay out of the area so resources can go into the recovery.
As we drove the 88 miles from Birmingham to Montgomery on Highway 65 we saw caravans of National Guard jeeps, demolition trailers, generators, water trucks, sheriff's cars, ambulances, and electric utility trucks all driving north to assist in the recovery.
Today is coming to a close. We are inspired by the generous spirits of people connecting in countless ways offering help and hope in the midst of such devistation.
