Property damage has been reported in pockets throughout central and north Alabama following strong storms last night (March 29), but there have not been any reported deaths. At least three church buildings experienced some form of damage in the storms.
Mark Wakefield, disaster relief and chaplaincy ministries strategist with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said today the damage “is significant to affected folks, but not widespread.”
“The damage is isolated, (meaning) there were no long track tornadoes with massive damage,” he said, adding that it seems all clean-up and recovery efforts are being handled locally.
The National Weather Service announced via Twitter that it could be several days before their surveys are done, so the exact number of tornadoes and strength is not yet known.
Pine View Baptist Church in Brent, part of Bibb Association, had some minor damage to the siding on the front of the church, but it should be a quick fix, says Pastor Mark Lovett.
“The picture absolutely looks worse than it is,” he said. “We’re very fortunate.”
That sentiment was echoed by Ric Camp, associational mission strategist for Shelby Baptist Association. Part of Shelby County was in the polygon last night, according to meteorologist James Spann.
“I was literally on the phone texting back and forth with one of the pastors in Chelsea, and I was watching the ultimate forecaster James Spann, and I said, ‘You guys need to be ready,’” Camp told The Alabama Baptist.
“But all of a sudden, James Spann said the storm expired — it just dissipated.
“We’re very, very blessed.”
Familiar path
Scott Peters expected to wake up to storm damage, since he lives in Tuscaloosa County and serves as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Bibb County, but that was not the case, to his surprise.
“This time last year, a tornado came very close to the church,” Peters said. “As it passed the church, it lifted and turned, missing the church. … It was very close.”
So this year, Peters continued to be watchful.
“We had the storm that came last night through Pickens County … go right around on both sides of us in Northport,” he said. “It’s definitely very surreal.”
Other churches that aren’t affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention received varying levels of damage, including Cornerstone Church of Christ in Central Heights and Bible Baptist Church in Wilton.
For more information about Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief, visit sbdr.org.
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