Alabama: Tornadoes Devastate the State

I spent Wednesday evening hunkered down in the basement of my dorm building, nervously waiting for a string of tornadoes to pass through Birmingham. Frustrated that we were forced to take shelter, girls lined the hallways, watching storm trackers on their computers, attempting to finish homework and texting friends and family members to assure their loved ones that they were safe.

As soon as the tornadoes touched down in Tuscaloosa, reports of the devastation came pouring in from University of Alabama students-- “the Krispy Kreme building is gone,” and “my friends’ 15^th Street apartment building has been demolished,” were among the reports.

After these reports, we considered ourselves lucky when we heard that a tornado had touched down just 5 miles down the road in downtown Birmingham. We were relieved when an “all clear” email allowed us to leave the crowded basement and return to our previous activities. 

The majority of students went to sleep on Wednesday night realizing that Samford was lucky to have avoided the tornadoes, but failing to realize the extent of the damage. When we awoke on Thursday morning, we were faced with a death count exceeding 100 persons that continued to grow throughout the day.

As pictures of the destruction began to flood the internet, the reality of the situation became apparent. Some close friends, classmates and professors had been directly affected by the storm. The frustration that we had expressed previously turned into a feeling of sympathy towards those affected and a feeling of gratitude that Samford’s campus had been spared.

Without these pictures, however, we would not know about the immense destruction just a few miles down the road. Without the work of photojournalists, newscasters and news writers, information of the tragedy would not be so accessible. 

I have often posted pictures of international events accompanied by a call to action to be more aware of global events. Photojournalists who photograph these events help to raise awareness. However, this devastating event is vastly different. Local photojournalists and photographers are raising awareness about a tragedy that occurred here in Birmingham and surrounding cities. Just as Egypt, Libya and other war-torn, poverty-stricken areas are in need of aid, Alabama is desperately in need of help.