After more than two years, parts of Tuscaloosa remain in ruin from a devastating tornado that swept directly through the heart of the city. The tornado heavily impacted neighborhoods in the Alberta City area, just east of the University of Alabama campus.

Numerous businesses, homes and the new Alberta Elementary School were completely demolished. With help from Alabama Power and non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, residents are seeing their community come back together.

On Juanita Drive, Habitat for Humanity has plans to build 32 houses, each with a safe room. “We are working with numerous organizations to secure funds to build these homes, and Alabama Power has been great to work with,” said Brandon Kasteler of Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa.

Paige Lake, who works in residential marketing at Alabama Power, is working directly with builders to ensure those homes meet EarthCents specifications. “This will provide residents moving in with a fully electric energy efficient home. Habitat has been a great partner and we have made sure that they receive whatever they need from us to re-build this community,” said Lake.

The assistance isn’t limited to energy efficiency advice. Lake is one of many Alabama Power Service Organization volunteers who are helping build one of the houses on Juanita Drive. “We have a great relationship with Alabama Power and appreciate everything the employees here in Tuscaloosa have done for us. We hope to continue to find different ways we can work together,” said Kasteler.