Little by little, Alabama town of Phil Campbell revives its spirit in decade since tornado
The damage was severe in the Alabama town of Phil Campbell following the April 2011 storms and tornadoes. (file)
In the northwestern corner of Alabama, the town of Phil Campbell is starting to see some light at the end of a very long and treacherous tunnel.
“Everything here is related to pre-tornado and post-tornado,” explained Phil Campbell City Councilwoman Lynn Landers.
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On April 27, 2011, a violent EF5 tornado ripped through the Phil Campbell area of Franklin County, killing 27 people and destroying 937 structures in its path. A total of 430 of those homes and buildings were in the Phil Campbell city limits. Of those, 85% sustained major damage or were decimated.
“After that, we lost a lot of citizens when they moved out of town. They either lost their homes or we had no homes left to offer,” said Landers. “It was a big impact economically, but more so emotionally.”
Among the devastated community buildings were the Mountain View Baptist Church, Phil Campbell High School, public housing and a public swimming pool.
Rita Barton, a long-time Phil Campbell resident, was the town’s parks and recreation department director at the time, a role she held for 15 years. She said people from all over the United States came to help with the cleanup efforts.
“It brought everybody together. Everybody helped everybody, everybody knows everybody, and all the families pulled together and we helped each other,” Barton said. “If it hadn’t been for the people, I don’t know what we would have done.”
The catastrophic storm brought national attention to the uniquely named town, but it soon found itself in an even brighter spotlight, thanks to a confluence of events.
Phil Campbells from around the world were already planning to descend on the town to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The original Phil Campbell Convention took place in 1995, and Brooklyn-based writer Phil Campbell was seeking to hold the event again in conjunction with the town’s annual Hoedown festival in June.
But just weeks before the reunion, the Phil Campbells learned their namesake community had been nearly wiped out, and the convention turned into a relief effort.
Former Phil Campbell resident Andrew Reed was already planning to make a documentary about the Phil Campbell convention. Instead, he captured the Phil Campbells as they converged from across the globe to support the cleanup and rebuilding efforts, including a Habitat for Humanity build.
“I really didn’t want to keep filming. You don’t want to be the person creating a spectacle when people need help and are suffering,” said Reed, whose documentary “I’m With Phil” was released in 2014.
He credits “Brooklyn Phil” for encouraging him to press on with the film. “So, I continued to chronicle and talk to people who had been affected. It starts as a funny, quirky thing, then transitions into people wanting to help.”
Indeed, the purpose of the film became, in part, to help raise awareness and money for the town’s recovery.
“We got a lot of coverage, but not a whole lot of profit,” said Reed, adding that the film had a positive, emotional impact – bringing some light to residents during a very dark time. “I’m most proud of the friendships that were forged. It was a unique experience.”
Steve Bell, former mayor of Phil Campbell, said while the town has come a long way in 10 years, there is still a lot of empty space and much to be done.
“We still have about 300 people displaced in the city limits. Some have built back and returned, but there are a lot of vacant lots, and the landscape is forever changed,” said Bell. “It takes all your resources pulling together, and outside resources from the state and federal government, and a lot of grants have been in play. Without that, we would never be where we are now.”
Bell said the extent of the damage resulted in some improvements that otherwise may not have been addressed, including infrastructure upgrades that have greatly benefited the town. He said it took about a year and a half just to complete the cleanup, and rebuilding has gradually followed, including a new high school and public housing.
Looking toward the future, Town Clerk Jenny Burks said Phil Campbell is starting to see some renewed growth and, in just the past six months, new residents started moving into town from states such as Oklahoma, Wyoming, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
“They’re looking for a small town that is just real,” said Burks. “They’re looking for somewhere to live that’s quaint and small, and they’ve found that here.”
The recent influx of new residents combined with tax revenues that held steady during the pandemic – thanks to residents staying home and shopping local – has residents feeling more optimistic.
“Patience is key. It can’t happen overnight,” said Landers. “I think it’s looking very prosperous. The main thing has been to give the town a face-lift to help boost morale in the community. There’s been a growing desire to improve and make the town better with more of a hometown feeling, with more community. It’s strengthened our community ties.”
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the April 27 tornado and how the town has gotten back on its feet, the Phil Campbell High School band plans to perform an original piece for its spring concert that day, accompanied by a slideshow of images showing the school’s damage from the storm and its rebuilding.
As people move back into town, new businesses open and foliage regrows, residents of Phil Campbell are looking ahead with hope.
“Gradually through the years, people have begun to come back. People didn’t want to stay away from Phil Campbell. This was their home,” Barton said. “I just want to see Phil Campbell grow larger than what it is now. I am hoping and praying a lot more people will come back and try to rebuild.”
