Gov. Robert Bentley visits tornado-torn Birmingham, praises Alabama Power
Gov. Bentley is joined by Birmingham Mayor William Bell and other local and state leaders in surveying the storm damage. (Wynter Byrd/Alabama NewsCenter)
Gov. Robert Bentley toured tornado-ravaged sections of southwest Birmingham Sunday, visiting with tornado victims and conferring with public officials.
The governor stopped briefly at the Powderly branch of the Birmingham Public Library before moving on to the Hillman Station neighborhood, where the tornado that hit Christmas night smashed homes, cars and businesses.
Jonathan Porter (center), Alabama Power’s vice president for the Birmingham Division, addressed the governor and other lawmakers on Alabama Power’s operations. (Wynter Byrd/Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power brought in extra crews from Montgomery and Mobile, along with contract workers, to quickly restore power to everyone who was capable of taking service. Work to connect those customers, including Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, was completed Saturday night.
The governor visited with tornado victims at Hopewell, which is serving as a feeding station and shelter, and then walked down Jefferson Avenue to survey damage.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell accompanied the governor, as well as Birmingham Mayor William Bell and other local officials. Sewell said the visit was an opportunity to get a more complete picture of the damage, to determine whether it meets the threshold for seeking federal disaster assistance.
Don Lupo, director of Birmingham’s Office of Citizens Assistance, said the damage in southwest Birmingham was far more extensive than the initial estimates of 50 homes, businesses and other facilities. “We’ll have a better count tomorrow,” Lupo said.
Earlier in the weekend, the governor visited the flood-ravaged town of Elba. Strong storms and heavy rains over Christmas washed out roads and flooded homes and businesses across the state. The heavy rains also forced Alabama Power to open spillgates at several of the company’s reservoirs, some of which are expected to rise well above summer levels later this week.
Bentley praised the work done by Alabama Power crews and by emergency management officials, the American Red Cross and volunteers in Birmingham and across the state to help those in need.
“Unfortunately, we are experienced in these natural disasters,” Bentley said.
