The number 3 never looked so haunting as it did that morning, the morning so many dreaded. For as long as night lingered, the reality of what came next didn’t exist.
But as sure as the horrific nightmare of a day finally took its bow, the glorious rays of sunshine couldn’t just be a peaceful reward for enduring the monster. Instead, they spotlighted the catastrophic condition that would change Alabama and Alabamians forever.
April 27, 2011 — another date that will godown in history — the day 70-mph-plus straight-line winds followed by more than 20 gangster-minded tornadoes banded together to obliterate a path across the state from Mississippi to Georgia.
And the number 3? Crudely spray painted on the house left in shambles meant that many body bags would be needed.
“This is our Katrina,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “We need Alabama Baptists to pull together in giving, going and praying in order to get back on our feet.”
Preparing even as the storms tore through the state, Lance moved the SBOM staff to an “all hands on deck” mode and led the way for Mel Johnson, SBOM disaster relief specialist, to have his incident command center set up at the Baptist Building in Montgomery by mid-day April 28. “We will be here until the crisis needs are concluded,” Johnson said.
And Bobby Dubois, SBOM associate executive director, believes this crisis isn’t going anywhere any time soon. “This is going to be overwhelming,” he said, noting the 200-plus fatalities and large number of people still searching for loved ones at press time.“Our number one priority is this disaster.”
On April 28, SBOM staff members were reassigned to crisis management and disaster relief roles right away. Ministry assistants also were briefed and trained for specific functions. And all statewide events sponsored by the SBOM were canceled until further notice.
But even with this army of workers, monetary resources are strained, Johnson said.
“We are thankful for the greater community of faith and other nongovernmental organizations helping in times of need,” he said. “But the value of the Southern Baptist Convention has given us this resource of having state missionaries and statewide resources to help folks in need. 100 percent of donations goes to the affected victims.“Make sure we can help those in need.”
To donate online, visit www.alsbom.org/feature5.
Mail checks to Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, P.O. Box 11870, Montgomery, AL 36111–0870 (mark the check “Alabama tornado relief”).
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