Alabama Baptist disaster relief volunteers responded in large numbers to the Nov. 10 tornadoes that devastated parts of Walker, Cullman and Cherokee counties. Several Alabama associations joined a national disaster relief effort attempting to clean up after storms ripped through the South and Great Lakes region Nov. 10–11.
Officials say at least 36 people were killed — 12 died in Alabama — and hundreds were injured in the storms that spawned more than 70 tornadoes.
Tommy Puckett, director of men’s ministry for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), said the worst damage appeared to be in three areas — Carbon Hill, Centre and Bremen.
“In Centre, that was a terrible trail of a tornado,” he said. “You could go up to a higher elevation and see it. The path was about one and a half to two miles long and probably a quarter of a mile wide in some places.”
Carbon Hill resident John Davis, whose newly-bought house on First Avenue Southwest was destroyed, said, “I cried like a baby when I saw it, but then I realized, ‘I’m alive, my family’s alive and that’s what matters.’”
Crews from the affected associations received additional help from their sister associations.
Mobile kitchens were deployed to Carbon Hill and Centre Nov. 11.
The Tuscaloosa feeding unit headed to First Baptist Church, Carbon Hill, but was rerouted to the city’s Church of God of Prophecy because of electricity failure at First Baptist.
“We’ve not had a dissatisfied customer yet,” joked volunteer cook Charles Burns of Grant’s Creek Baptist Church as he “supervised” the other cooks. “We really enjoy doing this,” he continued. “[In these situations] you don’t always have time to talk, so this is one good way we can witness.”
Marshall Association sent its feeding unit to Pine Grove Baptist Church, Centre, to help in Cherokee Association. Cleanup crews in that area came from Tuskegee Lee, Russell, East Liberty, Randolph and Tallapoosa associations.
Cleanup crews in the Carbon Hill and Saragossa communities in Walker Association came from Elmore, Pickens, Baldwin and Birmingham associations. Mac Moore coordinated the disaster relief efforts in Walker Association. East Cullman, Limestone and Madison associations pulled together for cleanup responsibilities in West Cullman Association, particularly in Bremen.
Members of Ryans Creek Baptist Church fed the volunteers.
And with the cleanup crews came chain saws and the constant sound of tree limbs crashing to the ground.
Disaster relief team members worked together to cut a path into the flattened homes by trimming one branch at a time and dragging the limbs and debris away from the homes.
Residents in all the damaged areas expressed appreciation to the volunteers for their efforts.
Davis said, “It’s a blessing. If any [disaster] happens anywhere that I can drive to, I’m there. I’ll show up with my chain saw.”
Another resident thanked crew members and said she and her family planned to donate to the SBOM’s disaster relief fund.
Along with personal donations, the SBOM plans to release funds in addition to the disaster relief work, according to Rick Lance, SBOM executive director.
“We are preparing for financial assistance to affected areas as needs become obvious,” Lance told The Alabama Baptist. “Associational directors of missions will help analyze need, and then we will respond with the financial resources available to us,” he explained.
“As always, we depend on the sacrificial giving of Alabama Baptists to help provide funds needed for disaster relief assistance,” he said.
At press time Puckett said some crews had finished work late on Nov. 13 and 14, but most crews were to finish by Nov. 15.
And while Puckett pulled the teams from the area, the work is far from finished, he said.
“Some of these volunteers have been working disasters since [Hurricane] Lilli hit in Louisiana,” Puckett explained, noting some teams left work in southwest Alabama just one day before this latest assignment.
Five associations sent teams to Abbeville for cleanup following the Nov. 5 F-2 tornado that damaged the town located in the Judson Association.
“They need some relief,” Puckett said, noting he planned to request out-of-state disaster relief teams from the North American Mission Board to finish the work.”
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