On Jan. 25, 84-year-old Jean Hadley sat on the bottom of the basement steps in the Fultondale home where she has lived for 58 years as a tornado tore away the roof and most of the walls from her house. She held on to a bench as the wind and rain pounded.
When the deafening noise of the storm and the rain stopped, Hadley made her way out of the house through the tossed furniture and debris. She was walking down the driveway, in one piece but soaking wet, as her daughter drove up in her car. They were so grateful to see each other safe and sound.
Over the next three days, Hadley went back to her house to salvage what she could. But so much was destroyed — her house and everything in her back yard, including her car, a boat, jet skis, travel trailer and a storage shed, all gone.
Devastating loss
She was able to save her clothes and a few items, but by the fourth day, staying at her daughter’s home, the loss was beginning to sink in.
As Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief trailers approached Hadley’s house on New Castle Road in Fultondale, the area hardest hit by the storm, several cars filled the driveway. Family and friends came in groups to help clear the multiple trees and debris covering the yard as well as clear items in the house. Hadley had cared for most of the children in the area in her own home for 35 years, and now her friends wanted to help.
Chainsaw crew
A chainsaw crew from the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association worked to remove the huge trees in the backyard. Most had saws, another kept the saws sharpened. Volunteers pulled smaller limbs into a pile. Another crew member picked up limbs with the skid steer to move them near the street for pickup.
And as they worked, volunteers asked Hadley’s family — what’s next? Her answer: She plans to rebuild.
Click here to read how Fultondale First Baptist Church has been helping with the tornado cleanup.
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