Last week we spent our time in Guntersville, Alabama, a city within Marshall County.  The county, which has a population of 94,000, has been victim to five fatalities and 75% of the county has been destroyed or damaged. The neighborhood we offered relief to was ravaged by the tornadoes and severe winds.  As of the day we were there, the residents still did not have power, and the water lines had even been pulled out of the ground, so they had no water service.  The homeowners who we assisted also had help from their two sons and some friends to try to get the debris and logs cleared from their property.  The utility crew onsite was from Elizabethtown, Kentucky – like many of the crews working around the clock to restore power to the affected areas, they had traveled a long distance to support those affected by the storm.  We had 12 volunteers working on this site alone.  The damage and debris was like a war zone.  Many contractors had come through the neighborhood offering to do the same service we were providing—removing logs and stumps—but it would cost around $30,000 just for the removal.  These homeowners were lucky. Unlike some of their neighbors, their home was not damaged.  The trees fell all around them, even crushing a garden shed and tool shed, but by the grace of God their home was not hit.

CAP also has a shower truck and laundry facilities set up in the county that provide people with a place to clean up and tend to other much-needed necessities, like washing their clothing.  According to one resident, it could be 21 days before power and services are completely restored, even though a new utility pole now stands in her front yard.  The extent of damage to utilities across Marshall County and the state will take a while to repair, even with crews from all over the country working around the clock.  Given this lack of power, food is still in great demand here in Alabama, and non-perishable items are needed most because of the lack of refrigeration.  It is hard to find eggs and milk, even at the local groceries that do have power.

This week CAP is joined by over 60 volunteers from a restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.  They will be working in the area doing all that can be done at this point, cleaning up debris, removing brush and patching roofs and windows that were destroyed by trees and wind.  This is just the beginning.  Alabama and the other states affected by this terrible bout of tornadoes haven’t even begun to rebuild.  They are still trying to wrap their heads around the grieving and losses suffered.

____________________________________________________________

The shocking round of tornadoes that ripped through the southeast on April 27th made a path from Alabama to South Carolina. In the aftermath, more than 250 lives were lost in seven states. 194 lives were taken in Alabama alone, the deadliest day from weather in the state’s history. Homes were completely destroyed, and people’s lives torn apart and strewn across the countryside.

On top of this devastation, 15 inches of rain has fallen in a matter of five days causing flooding in parts of the region, which is creating a whole new layer to this disaster. We have all seen the images of the devastating tornadoes. It is akin to watching a movie; we can hardly believe the twisters and destruction are real. But they are, and CAP is making every effort to make a difference in the wake of this disaster.

Our Disaster Relief team will be helping in Alabama, working on the ground cleaning up debris and helping provide hope and support to the people affected most. We want these communities to know we care and to believe that they can and will thrive again. Operation Sharing trucks will be delivering hope to several states including Tennessee and Kentucky, in the form of semi-trucks full of supplies and much needed items. These supplies will be a life line into places that have no water and no electricity, where stores and gas stations are not operable, where normal daily living has ceased to exist. We are doing all that can be done to assist the thousands displaced by this disaster.

You, too can help by supporting our efforts with your donations. We need your support now more than ever. More importantly the victims and communities need your support and we can help you help them. Make your donation today. Help keep our trucks transporting supplies and our volunteers cleaning-up and distributing donations. Every second counts, every dollar will make a difference.

Please make your contribution today