At about 5:10 p.m. on April 27, 2011, an EF-4 tornado began cutting a deadly swath through Tuscaloosa. Mayor Walt Maddox saw the town he loves crippled by the massive tornado, one of more than 60 which tore across Alabama during a day of destruction that became one of the state’s worst natural disasters.

Four years later, the painful memory of that terrifying day remains. But Tuscaloosa is well on its way to recovery. Following the tornado, the community joined together to breathe new life into the areas affected.

Alabama Power’s Anna Catherine Roberson recently caught up with Maddox to discuss the restoration efforts and the plans to rebuild a stronger, better Tuscaloosa.

Since the April 2011 tornado, how has the community come together to rebuild and recover? Do you feel a stronger sense of community since the storm?

I continue to be impressed by the way community members in Tuscaloosa work together to rebuild lives uprooted by the April 27, 2011 tornado and lend a hand to neighbors in need. Citizens of Tuscaloosa have a spirit that is contagious and it is evident as I look around our City and see the growth of houses and businesses.

We realized early in the game in order to recover in a way that would make our community stronger, safer and smarter than before, we needed a collective vision. The Tuscaloosa Forward plan is a shining example of what can be accomplished when neighbors work together to think about our future—how we can not only build back, but build back better.

What has the recovery been like for Tuscaloosa? What progress has been made? 

The Tuscaloosa Forward process of community engagement and planning was an accelerated but necessary undertaking. This generational plan guides Tuscaloosa’s path of recovery and will continue to evolve to meet our community’s needs.

Over the last four years, the City has pursued every funding opportunity we could find and we are now reinvesting more than $140 million across 40 projects in housing, infrastructure and economic development citywide.

By taking a critical look at infrastructure, we have identified projects that will improve major roadways and traffic flow in areas including 10^th Avenue, Hargrove/Hackberry, McFarland Blvd./15^th Street, 25^th Avenue and Prince Avenue.

Tuscaloosa storm damage April 2011

What has been the most challenging part of the recovery process? Why?

Housing remains a top priority as we rebuild damaged homes through partnerships and funding support for Habitat for Humanity and the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority. We are also promoting and supporting home ownership through a $10,000 down-payment assistance program and homebuyers education courses.

What do you consider one of the major successes from this recovery process?

We continue to support local businesses and promote job creation in our recovery area through commercial loan programs. In fact, many local favorites have been able to participate in one or both of the City’s loan programs and a handful of new businesses have emerged. The City has invested more than $3 million in businesses across the community.

The City has also rebuilt and improved critical facilities including the East Police Precinct, Fire Station 4, the Public Safety and Logistics and the Richard A. Curry Environmental Services Facility. With the new environmental services facility came the opportunity for recycling Citywide, and soon the recycling of glass.

Tuscaloosa storm damage April 2011

What do you hope to see in the future for Tuscaloosa? Where does it go from here? 

While we have an impressive list of accomplishments, I am most excited as I think about the future for Tuscaloosa. Looking forward, we have set high goals in regard to technology, communication, connectivity and planning for tomorrow’s infrastructure, today. A technology center, business incubator and extensive fiber network will serve as a catalyst for new businesses and a support system and resource base for residents.

Neighborhoods and businesses will be more connected and walkable than ever thanks to the development and construction of the City Walk—a shared use pedestrian friendly path following the path of the tornado and already visible in the Forest Lake neighborhood. It is so important for Tuscaloosa to be a connected community because a connected community is a resilient community.

I am proud of the example that Tuscaloosa has become—a model of resilience in the face of disaster.