4/28
A Crosspoint group took off to Cullman, Alabama on a Thursday night. Staying at some in-laws about 24 out-laws made home for the night in Oneanta. We’ll leave the comment section open concerning who snores.
4/29
Early morning is not good for some… Breakfast, making lunch, and heading out became priority. The group headed off to meet up with a local to get in town to get a permit. During that time we saw some damage, but not all. After arriving at the house to be worked on, everyone had to take time to take in the damage. And then it was on. Tools came out of the truck and work started. Everyone seemed to wonder where to start. Some local groups were soon going by with water and eventually food. I’m sure in the areas that got blown away way worse, things wasn’t this easy.
After a while, more people were coming into the neighborhood and neighbors were coming home. Residents were telling their stories as we met them. It helps to talk about the trauma. A Nashville weatherman was collecting those stories and had time to describe the main tornado event to some of the team. One guy, had a street sign fly into the basement right where he had been moments before.
As the day went on, our truck became necessary to be the hub of the clean up. Chainsaws were cleaned, repaired, and filled up to keep things going.
Four houses were in the immediate spot of where we parked the mobile hope center. As those were cleaned up, the team spread out to other spots. After a long day, it was dinner time. The barbecue tasted great. Then some more snoring…
4/30
More breakfast, and then back to finish up some yards. After that, more yards. By then, volunteers were every where, some working and some passing out water and food. There were those who were just walking around to take a look.
One guy had brought his 5th wheel and supplies to cook lunch. His family cooked a lot, and others kept bringing more food and water around. If anyone was hungry it was their own fault.
Back to Nashville and such for the evening.
Tour 2
5/2
This was an early morning trip to get there and start again. So after arriving, we were off to another town. The Mayor of Hanceville pointed the way to a street to get started. Chainsaws and gloves got the trees cut up and moved at a dozen or so homes. Some how lunch got brought in from where it was donated.
Later in the evening it was off to Quail Creek Golf Resort. They want to do their part in helping out. One family was there whose home was blown completely away, as in nothing is left. A great dinner, a great night sleep, and an awesome breakfast. Another family was at breakfast who also lost everything.
5/3
Another day with some drive time to Scottsboro. Our guide took us to a tiny town called Section. One driveway with a bunch of trees in it. Then to another hard hit area. Sigh, words can’t do justice to the homes blown away. Trees behind the foundations should have leaves, but were just a trunk with a few limbs. Remains of the homes were scattered. The one spot we could stop at, all we found were a few photos. The circuit board embedded in a tree looked cool, but not so much when you think about where it came from and what it took to get there.
On to another location, high point or ft payne. It didn’t matter the name, people had lost lives in the houses there. More trees and sorting through belongings. The rain wasn’t warmth, but we had homes to go back to.
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