For the Tuscaloosa community, April 27, 2011, is remembered as unimaginably horrific and unforgettable. The EF4 tornado that struck the area took the lives of 53 people and damaged more than 5,000 homes and businesses.
Ten years later, memories from the day are still intense for those who witnessed the historic event.
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“It was a devastating day – a tremendous amount of destruction in some of our struggling communities. A tremendous amount of lives lost,” said Joseph Brown, Alabama Power’s Western Division area manager.
The Rosedale Apartments community, a multifamily public housing development on the southwestern end of the city, experienced a total loss. Tuscaloosa Housing Authority Assistant Executive Director Willie “Dino” Fort recalled his first memory of arriving to the community.
“When I got to Rosedale, I could not believe it. That EF4 tornado made this look like a war zone.”
The storm claimed the lives of nine residents and destroyed 124 units. Fort recalled the residents’ confusion and worry immediately following the storm, with many of them looking to him for help. He organized them to begin searching for their neighbors and helped them remove debris. He called on churches and members of the community for help and they responded.
“Folks poured their hearts out. Folks worked day and night. We had one church send a member here to just see what we needed every day.”
April 2011 tornadoes anniversary: Tuscaloosa then and now from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox recalled how quickly community rebuilding efforts got underway. “People of this city didn’t wait. They took care of what was needed in their respective neighborhoods. Alabama Power being one of those that was able to establish hope pretty quickly in the process.”
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The destruction in Tuscaloosa following the April 27, 2011 tornadoes was extensive. (Wynter Byrd / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
Tuscaloosa saw extensive damage from the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The destruction in Tuscaloosa following the April 27, 2011 tornadoes was extensive. (Wynter Byrd / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The destruction in Tuscaloosa following the April 27, 2011 tornadoes was extensive. (Wynter Byrd / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa was one of the hardest hit by the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
Damage to Alabama Power’s infrastructure was unprecedented, with more than 75% of its west Alabama customers without service. Company employees moved as quickly and safely as possible to begin restoring power and provide support to the community by leveraging partnerships and resources to help those affected.
The damage to Alabama Power’s infrastructure was extensive when the April 2011 tornadoes ripped through the state. (Meg McKinney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power saw extensive damage to its infrastructure in Tuscaloosa with the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power mobilized its own crews and those from other states to help return service in Tuscaloosa following the April 2011 tornadoes. (Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power saw extensive damage to its infrastructure in Tuscaloosa with the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
The damage to Alabama Power’s infrastructure was extensive when the April 2011 tornadoes ripped through the state. (Meg McKinney / Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power mobilized its own crews and those from other states to help return service in Tuscaloosa following the April 2011 tornadoes. (Alabama NewsCenter)
Alabama Power saw extensive damage to its infrastructure in Tuscaloosa with the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Phil Free / Alabama NewsCenter)
“We did housing for those people who were displaced out of Rosedale and Alberta City. We partnered with every church that was doing any kind of support in the community,” Brown said.
The company brought in partners like NBA Cares to provide food and clothing to residents, and used support from the Alabama Power Foundation to help community organizations working in affected neighborhoods. Alabama Power Service Organization volunteers were actively involved in supporting victims and the recovery efforts.
Satellite imagery shows an area of Tuscaloosa before the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (satellite image courtesy of GeoEye)
A satellite image shows the path of the tornado as it passed between the University of Alabama campus and DCH Regional Medical Center. (satellite image courtesy of GeoEye)
Although the tragedy was undeniable, the Tuscaloosa area has come back better and stronger than before, local leaders said. But 10 years later, they said the most powerful impression is how people pulled together so quickly after the storm to help each other and rebuild Tuscaloosa and surrounding communities.
“Even in our darkest hours, there’s always hope. And we all came together to ensure that delicate flame of hope was not extinguished,” Maddox said.
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
Willie J. Fort, assistant executive director of the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, said he is still inspired by the way the community came together after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
A decade after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, signs of recovery and renewal can be found throughout Tuscaloosa. (Dennis Washington / Alabama NewsCenter)
