Help pours into tornado-damaged Alabama

Published On: 01.27.21 |

By: Dennis Washington

Help pours into tornado-damaged Alabama

Gov Kay Ivey Fultondale tornado survey FEATURE

Gov. Kay Ivey speaks with media as she tours tornado damage Wednesday in Fultondale. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey comforted survivors and thanked first responders and volunteers Wednesday during a visit to Fultondale and Center Point, two cities heavily damaged by a deadly tornado Monday night.

Numerous state and local government officials joined Ivey on Wednesday morning as she surveyed storm damage. She thanked first responders and volunteers for their tireless work.

“The people of Alabama are praying for y’all,” Ivey said. “We are here as a sign of our commitment to your recovery.”

Governor Ivey tours tornado damage from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

The tornado, rated an EF-3 by the National Weather Service, struck about 10:40 p.m. Monday, killing 14-year-old Elliot Hernandez, a freshman at Fultondale High School, and injuring 30 others.

“I express my deep condolences to Elliot Hernandez’s family and loved ones,” Ivey said. “Homes and businesses can be rebuilt, but losing a young soul to a storm like this is beyond heartbreaking.”

The tornado left a 10-mile path of destruction from Fultondale to Center Point. Karen Sparks of Fultondale said she had no idea how bad the damage was to her neighborhood until she returned today.

“It was a lot worse than I thought,” Sparks said. “By the grace of God my son and I got out without a scratch. The tornado tried to lift him out but he held on to a door. I’m just glad we got out.”

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks to reporters during a press conference Wednesday morning at Fultondale City Hall. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

The tornado, rated an EF-3 by the National Weather Service, struck about 10:30 p.m. Monday. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

The tornado left a 10-mile path of destruction from Fultondale to Center Point. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Authorities say a 14-year-old died in the tornado. The storm is also blamed for 30 injuries. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Karen Sparks (left) of Fultondale told Gov. Ivey she had no idea how bad the damage was to her neighborhood until she returned today. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Gov. Ivey thanked emergency managers and first responders for their hard work. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Gov. Ivey thanked Alabama Power and other emergency managers and first responders for their hard work. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Alabama Power said as of 3 p.m. Wednesday it had restored service to 99% of customers able to receive it. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Gov. Ivey encouraged Alabamians wanting and able to help storm survivors to contribute to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Volunteers hand out food and water to storm survivors Wednesday. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Volunteers from Church of the Highlands were seen Wednesday distributing water and food to storm survivors. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Volunteers gather and distribute relief supplies at Fultondale City Hall. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Volunteers at Decatur Highway Church of Christ unload relief supplies donated by Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort in Nashville. Church leaders say supplies will be available for pickup at the church building Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (contributed)

The tornado left a 10-mile path of destruction from Fultondale to Center Point. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Gov. Ivey encouraged Alabamians wanting and able to help storm survivors to contribute to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Alabama Power said as of 3 p.m. Wednesday it had restored service to 99% of customers able to receive it. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Gov. Ivey thanked Alabama Power and other emergency managers and first responders for their hard work. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

The storm affected nearly 5,000 of Alabama Power’s customers. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Alabama Power said as of 3 p.m. Wednesday it had restored service to 99% of customers able to receive it. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)

Numerous volunteers from a variety of churches and civic organizations were out in the hard-hit neighborhoods Wednesday delivering food, water and encouragement. Chris Fulaytar of Fultondale told Ivey the assistance has been an encouragement to him, his family and neighbors.

“Everyone around here has been great,” Fulaytar said. “All the neighbors have pulled together. We had people here 30 minutes after the storm hit the other night, checking on everybody. When you think of small-town Alabama, this is it.”

Alabama Power says as of 3 p.m. today it has restored power to 99 percent of the nearly 5,000 customers affected by the tornado who are able to receive it. Ivey thanked the power company along with emergency managers and first responders for their hard work.

“These are seasoned professionals that I know will get the job done,” Ivey said. “They know what to do and when to do it and I have every confidence in their ability to handle the situation. Without them, recovery efforts would simply not be possible.”

Ivey also encouraged Alabamians wanting and able to help storm survivors to contribute to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund.

“We’ve got an awful lot of work to do to rebuild this community,” Ivey said. “Alabamians always step up to help their neighbors in times of disaster. This is just another way they can do that.”