It’s been an extremely difficult time for those who live in the Southeast, specifically Alabamians. Due to the heavy impact of the disastrous tornadoes, thousands of people have lost their homes, belongings, and most unfortunately, their loved ones.
According to ABC News, the tornadoes hit Mississippi, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Alabama had the highest death toll with over 195 people pronounced dead, while the other states ranged from 10 to 40 deaths. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it was the worst tornado outbreak since 1974, when storms killed 315 people (abcnews.com).
Junior Jordyn Merrill has a close relative living in Tony, Alabama, an area that has also been affected by the tornadoes. She said, “My grandmother has been living in her motor home for the past few weeks because her house has no power. Even in the motor home, the power turns on in only certain places.”
Victims of the tornados are now left homeless, hoping to rebuild both their homes and their lives. According to the Wall Street Journal, the disastrous event has a silver lining for Birmingham’s Mayor William Bell, as he hopes the destructed area will be an opportunity to rebuild the city and act as a magnet for growth.
Others, however, are frustrated with the idea of rebuilding a city rather than focusing on individual homes. One local victim said, “On the one hand, someone wants to do a grand planning process where there’s a new build-out for the city, and on the other hand, you have individual citizens saying, ‘Hey, I want to rebuild my house’” (wallstreetjournal.com).
Government officials have been doing what they can to organize relief. According to the New York Daily News website, “President Obama declared a federal state of emergency in Alabama and dispatched Craig Fugat, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to the sprawling disaster zone” (nydailynews.com).
Mobile homes have been provided to offer an alternative to living situations, while relief shelters have been running out of space for the people in need. According to the Huffington Post, “FEMA has approved $13.6 million in grants to help build, fix, and support housing projects. So far, over $3 million of the total amount has been given specifically to Alabamians” (huffingtonpost.com).