St. Clair Times - Reflections

A Special Supplement to The St. Clair Times

Reflections of St. Clair County April 27, 2011 — One Year Later.

2 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

REFLECTIONS

‘I thought we were on our way to Heaven’

St. Clair Times associate editor

It was over in just a matter of seconds, but to Shoal Creek Valley’s Don and Sis Sanders, it seemed like an eternity. Sis kept her eyes closed the entire time the April 27 tornado destroyed the home where they were seeking safety.

When she did open her eyes, the first thing she saw was a wooden cross.

“My first thought was that Don and I were on our way to Heaven,” she said.

Don and Sis survived the tornado that day, but 13 people in Shoal Creek Valley did not. Some of those who died were related to them.

With the tornado just seconds away, the couple grabbed some pillows and knelt in the hallway.

“We have never been afraid of storms in the past, and felt safe in our brick home,” Sis said. “We

have gone to bed in the past with tornado warnings in and around our area. But I felt an uneasiness about this storm and had been tracking it all day and watched it come out of Tuscaloosa.”

“We both prayed to start with, and within two minutes of being in the hall, it hit,” Don said.

“We held on to each other, and we were sliding back and forth across the hall.

It sounded like 10 trains coming through.”

Sis described it like a Tilt-A-Whirl that people ride at carnivals; at one point, she felt herself lifted up out of the grasp of her husband.

“We hit our heads over here, then hit our heads over there,” Don said.

“Our knees had carpet burns from sliding so hard and fast. When it hit, Sis started praying out loud.”

The tornado completely wiped away their home, but spared their lives.

“There were little things

About the cover St. Clair County, along with the rest of the state of Alabama, will observe the anniversary of the destructive and deadly tornadoes that came through on April 27, 2011.

Pictured are some of the scenes from that day, from Shoal Creek Valley, Ragland, Moody and Pell City. Photos by Bob Crisp, Brian Schoenhals and Gary Hanner.

Cover concept and design by St. Clair Times editor Will Heath, St. Clair Times associate editor Gary Hanner and St. Clair Times graphic design artist Jennifer Mashburn.

“We started out in the hall, but ended up in the bathroom. When it was all over, we stood up, and we were taller than everything. One-third of our brick home was gone and the rest was rubble.”

Once they found out many people died, including some family members, Don and Sis felt guilty for even being alive.

“When I would see relatives and neighbors who lost children, it bothered me to begin with,” Don said. “But through the months, it has become easier, because I watch how they have coped with their loss.

“We did not lose anything compared to them

losing a loved one. Seeing how they continue to smile, make it day by day, and continue on with life, helps us make it.”

As the anniversary approaches, the two know it is going to be a very difficult day on one hand, but a very happy day otherwise.

“Without a doubt, when we saw that cross, God was showing us a glimpse of Heaven,” Don said. “We are grateful we survived.

We are closer to God, closer to each other, and closer to our church family at

Greensport Baptist. We’re closer to this community and closer to people.”

“The people of St. Clair County have something they can be very proud of. This county has a great sheriff ’s department, emergency personnel and responders. They all did outstanding jobs during chaotic, frantic and difficult times. It is amazing how they took control of this horrific ordeal and kept order.”

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

Argo Power Equipment, Inc. 750 Highway 11, Suite 1, Argo, AL 35173 www.argopoweronline.com

205-467-3300

BLOWER

Reliable 2-stroke engine with a tube-mounted throttle and low moise “hush mode.”

•High Quality 2-stroke Engine •Comfortable Back and Shoulder Pads •Large Fuel Tank Capacity

MSRP $529.99 Now Only Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Don and Sis Sanders stand on the spot where their brick home stood a year ago. Don points to the spot where they took cover in the hall.

Commerical

Residential

$

46999

BIG GREEN EGG

10% OFF

Good thru May 31, 2012

Parts, Sales, Service Since 1963

Shredded & Screened Soil

Keith Smith Vice President Office 205-338-2050 Cell 205-281-9243

Johnny Smith P.O. Box 730 Pell City, AL 35125

“We Make Dirt Look Good”

303930

By GARY HANNER

hitting us all over our bodies,” Don said. “It stung, but there was nothing big that fell on us or hit us.

The walls fell away from us.

“When it was over, the first words out of Sis’ mouth were, ‘I see a cross.

When she said that, I really thought we were on our way to Heaven. What she saw was two pieces of wood underneath the house where the air vent and ductwork had been.

The force of the wind had pulled the wall up and the ductwork up. Sis was about two feet from where that hole was. I never kept wood under the house, so I know God placed that cross there for Sis to see.

303966

Don and Sis Sanders recall the night that changed lives in Shoal Creek Valley

Serving the Argo, Springville & Trussville Areas Since 1998

REFLECTIONS

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 3

www.anglerrecycling.com

SERVING & RESTORING

Angler Recycling is honored to have served with Extreme Ministries in the tornado relief effort for the Shoal Creek Community.

303903

4 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

REFLECTIONS

Silence, events scheduled for anniversary

By GARY HANNER

St. Clair Times associate editor

Saturday, April 28, will be a special day in the life of Shoal Creek Valley, as its residents will have a special celebration to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the devastating tornado that swept through.

The tornado shattered lives and left 13 residents of the Valley dead.

This Saturday, the community will come together to celebrate life, the rebuilding of the Valley, and remember those who lost their lives.

• At 8 a.m., a 4K Run starts at fire station No. 1. It costs $20 per person to run.

• At 8:30 a.m., there will be a Memorial Walk also starts at fire station No. 1. It too, costs $20 to enter.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and drinks will be available all day long.

Door prizes will also be given away.

• At 12:30 p.m., registration begins for the Memorial Motorcycle Ride at the Piggy Wiggly parking lot in Ashville. Cost is $25 per bike, and $15 for additional riders. The ride starts at 1:30 p.m. at Piggly Wiggly.

The ride will eventually hit Shoal Creek Road and basically follow the path of the tornado, ending at fire station No. 1.

• From 4 to 8 p.m., live entertainment will perform at fire station No. 1. The band The Vinyls will perform, as will Ashville native Kevin Moore.

• Also that day, the Moody City Council has asked that all citizens observe a moment of silence at 10 a.m., in memory of the 15 people who lost their lives that day.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@ thestclairtimes.com.

File photo

Fundraisers and celebrations of the relief effort will take place this weekend in Shoal Creek Valley, the anniversary of the April 27 tornadoes.

HRH METALS, INC. Scrap Metal Recycling

Industrial & Commercial Recycling 905 Markeeta Spur Rd. • Moody, AL 35004

205-640-5500

www.hrhmetalsinc.com

303918

REFLECTIONS

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 5

6 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

REFLECTIONS

Baptist Association helps rebuild Valley

By WILL HEATH St. Clair Times editor

According to Ben Chandler, the Disaster Relief Team at the St. Clair Baptist Association is “prepared and ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

They were needed right here at home in a bad way on April 27.

“We worked from April 27 until today,” Chandler said. “We were there from the get go with our Disaster Relief Team and our chainsaw teams were there for 3-4 weeks. Then we started rebuild of houses, from the first of June – actually we started in mid-May, all the way through last Thanksgiving.”

Chandler said the Baptist Association has been involved in rebuilding 10-12 houses in the Shoal Creek Valley area after the destructive storms of April 27. And that does not include other “partial” projects on other properties, such as rebuilding decks, ramps and porches, or the counseling that took place to help hurting survivors.

“You want me to tell you about it, it would take all day,” he said. “There were teams that came in that we had nothing to do with – Mormons, Mennonites, teams from different churches around the nation that we had no say so over. But we did bring a lot of teams from across Alabama.”

Disaster Relief first came in the form of “chainsaw teams,” to help clean up after the storm.

It was a process that lasted many weeks.

“We met and decid-

ed on a plan of how we were going to clean up debris,” Chandler said.

“The county would take care of the debris, and the churches would take care of helping with personal property cleanup and do rebuild.”

In May, the Association, partnering with Extreme Ministries, began rebuilding. A year later, there is progress, but not all the work is done.

“The people in the Valley, of course, have scars, and they are still hurting,” said Chandler.

“We’ve seen a lot of people come through tragedy, and being ministered to by the churches in the area

– not just Shoal Creek Valley, but churches in the St. Clair Association have done a lot of work. A year later, I see some people that had mobile homes who now have houses.

“I think the people in the area, the county, have discovered what community really means again, and what it means to be givers. They’ve opened their hearts and their pocketbooks to give, very generously, graciously.

I think they’ve grown in their charitable giving; they’ve grown in their compassion for people.”

Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes. com.

File photo

Volunteers help out in Shoal Creek Valley.

MOODY REALTY Paula Krafft, Realtor

paula@moodyrealtyal.com www.moodyrealtyal.com

“I represent buyers and sellers throughout St. Clair County and surrounding areas.”

Homes - Land - New Construction

303937

Cell 205-365-9612 Office 205-640-7671

303932

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 7

REFLECTIONS

Lyman Lovejoy remembers the friends he lost April 27

Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Lyman Lovejoy lost about 500 acres of timber in Shoal Creek Valley last April 27. What hurt him more were the friends he lost to the devastating tornado.

St. Clair Times associate editor

Lyman Lovejoy calls Shoal Creek Valley home.

Lovejoy owns about 700 acres of timber, along Shoal Creek Road, the path the tornado took. Now about 500 acres of that timber is just lying on the ground.

“I lost two barns and a lot of timber,” Lovejoy said. “I had some equipment in the barns that was damaged. But it cannot compare to those people who lost family. I am very fortunate and thankful we were not there.

“I lost a lot of friends from Shoal Creek that day. A lot of them lost sons and daughter-in-laws. I hurt for them, and my loss is definitely nothing compared to theirs. My heart goes out to them. Whatever help they have received

is still not enough, but the people of this community, county and state have reached out to them.”

Lovejoy was one of thousands of volunteers to start helping those in need immediately and the next day. He brought equipment to help however he could.

“There were churches that helped, people from out-of-state” Lovejoy said.

“One year later, I believe the great people of Shoal Creek Valley are closer than ever before. They are a close-knit family, and they are survivors.

“They are slowly building back. They are slowly recovering. They are slowly putting their lives back together the best they can. They are banding together.

They are so thankful to all the people who have helped them through this.

They still need our prayers.”

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@ thestclairtimes.com.

‘I lost a lot of friends from Shoal Creek Valley. I hurt for those who lost loved ones. They still need our prayers.’

—Lyman Lovejoy

Pell City Heating & Cooling

Canoe Creek

Jason Fendley, Owner

Metal

•SALES •SERVICE •INSTALLATION •PRE-SEASON CHECK-UPS •INDOOR AIR QUALITY •FREE ESTIMATE ON REPLACEMENT

Licensed Contractor

SPECIALIZING IN SPRAY-ON METAL RUBBERIZED ROOFS ROOF COATINGS

E G A R

H C E R M HU O A H C G OR BUSINESS

WE SERVICE MOST MAKES & MODELS

270506

331 Cogswell Ave., Pell City

a 205-338-2820 u

“Quality, Service, Tradition” Family Owned Since 1950

www.griffinsjewelers.org

302409

www.pellcityheatingandcooling.com

Call For Your Free Estimate Today

303980

Financing Available To Qualifed Customers

*REASONABLE RATES*

(205) 478-6501 or (205) 467-0757

By GARY HANNER

8 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

reflections

Officials proud of job done in the aftermath

By WILL HEATH St. Clair Times editor

After April 27, people across the state — public officials and private citizens alike — were in a state of shock. Particularly those who lost family and loved ones.

That’s one of the reasons St. Clair County Commissioner Jeff Brown says he is grateful to his fellow commissioners. The commissioner for District 1, Brown grew up in the Ashville area, and had family members injured and killed in the April 27 disaster.

“I’ll be honest,” Brown said recently. “They (the commission) helped me a ton in that, because I didn’t think straight for several days.

“So they pulled that wagon for a long time by themselves, because I had family involved. I just appreciate what they did.”

Both the county government

and the municipal governments in Moody, Leeds, Ragland and Pell City were left dealing with devastation and destruction after that day. Moody Mayor Joe Lee said he drove to City Hall ahead of the morning storms after seeing the radar.

“There really was not any warning that I heard,” he said.

“I had a bad feeling, so I got my wife up and made her aware.

Then I drove over to City Hall.

“I wasn’t here but a few minutes, and the lights blinked and the power went out.”

The power in the city wouldn’t come back on for seven days.

All told, Moody suffered heavy damage to over 600 homes, with 99 classified as “heavy damage” or “destroyed.”

“We actually had to clear the roads to get the emergency responders out,” Lee said. “It took about 30 minutes.”

Later that day, the deadly tornado that ripped through Shoal Creek Valley caused similar stresses.

“We went into rescue mode originally,” said commission chairman Stan Batemon.

“Rescuing people that have been hurt or killed in a storm is totally different from going in and cleaning up. You can’t clean up as long as there’s hurt bodies and people out there.

“The first thing you need to do in the rescue – and we already knew that – was to clear a path for the rescue. You can’t just do that with a chainsaw. So our road department went directly into the rescue portion of that, which was to clear a one-lane area down Shoal Creek Valley Road.

“And they did just that. They got the fire and EMS people down in there, and the sheriff ’s people down in there, really

quick. Then, those people could go house-to-house looking for people.”

Batemon said power became a priority, both in rescue and recovery.

“First thing our road department did was to work with them, to clear a right of way, to rebuild the power line,” he said. “Just clearing the right of way didn’t take but a few days. Putting in the power line took several, and that’s where the sheriff ’s department stepped in. They did rolling roadblocks as the power company built out that system all the way down the valley.

“And they built out that system on a right of way cleared out by the county. Once that was done, then we could start addressing the debris on county property.”

The unincorporated portions of the county eventually

produced 300,000 cubic yards of debris, either removed or destroyed. Forty-four replacement homes have been built, and 23 others were heavily rebuilt, not counting 25-30 others that have not yet been touched.

“Initially, it felt overwhelming,” Batemon said. “Initially, it totally felt overwhelming.”

The city of Moody and the county each contracted with the U.S. Army Corps on Engineers for debris pickup, and both governments participated in “Operation Clean Sweep,” to clean up private property debris.

Currently, both governments are in the process of cleaning storm debris from Kelly Creek and the Little Cahaba River, using money that is coming from the federal Natural Resource Conservation Service.

“The main issue, of course,

Clearly, the most quality resource in Leeds for over 67 years.

See Officials, Page 9

Among its various contributions to the Leeds community, the LWWB is also a quality financial resource for local education.

Best Tasting Water Award Left to right: Lee Barnes, Charcey Glenn, John Patterson

LEEDS WATER WORKS BOARD 8651 Thornton Avenue, Leeds, AL • 205-699-5151 • www.lwwb.com

Pure.

Safe.

Delicious.

303907

The Leeds Water Works Board is proud supporter of Leeds City Schools and helps its customers do the same. The LWWB makes it simple for customers to make tax-deductible donations to LCS right on their water bill each month.

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 9

reflections

Officials From Page 8

is the debris stopping up the stream, damming up the stream and flooding the valley, and carrying debris that would wipe out two bridges,” Batemon said. “That’s the main expense for the county – what happens if this debris dams up these areas and it impacts our bridges?

“But the other side of it is, what happens if this stuff dams up and floods farmland and even homes down there?

Because that’s part of our floodplain management program.”

All the officials involved expressed pride in the response of the governments.

“There are some great things that have come out of that,” Brown said. “Everybody pulled together, from everywhere, the people down there. To be a disaster like it was, it’s not been a bad thing for that.”

“It took a ton of effort by everybody (in Moody),” Lee said. “It started with the employees of the city, but we had volunteers come forward through our churches and organizations that volunteered their time, our police officers and firefighters. Everybody was there when we needed them the most.”

“I take a lot of pride in the way the county responded,” Batemon said. “It was done in a very professional manner, and it was done in a very compassionate manner.

“I’ve never seen a group of deputies and policemen, and firemen – volunteer and paid – and emergency responders, and transportation people, have any more care about something.”

Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes.com.

Brian Schoenhals/St. Clair Times

Commissioner Jeff Brown, right, shakes hands with Gov. Robert Bentley in Shoal Creek Valley during the cleanup after the April 27 tornadoes.

Down Home, Down The Street.

ODENVILLE & ASHVILLE, AL

R emembering neighbors and friends in the communities we serve.

303905

10 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

reflections

‘Our home is your home’

Habitat for Humanity dedicates new homes in Shoal Creek Valley St. Clair Times editor

Debra Richardson called Shoal Creek Valley “the forgotten community” in the wake of the deadly tornadoes of April 27, 2011.

Richardson was one of the many who lost her home that day. She is now one of those who have a new place to call home; representatives from Habitat for Humanity were on hand earlier this month to dedicate four houses — for Richardson, for Sandra Harlow, for the Smith family and for the Dole family.

The ceremony was an emotional moment.

“Everybody’s been a blessing,” Richardson said.

“You don’t know what it means to us. We would not have had homes, because we were like the community that was forgotten about. I don’t know where I would’ve gone.

“A lot of people we didn’t know would come and help us, actually came.

I would like to thank each and every one of you, and the people that are not here. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us.”

The ceremony took place on the property belonging to Harlow, who also lost her husband earlier this year.

“It’s been a very long year,” she said. “It’s been a very trying year. And everyone in this community has had the same year.

But we are all extremely

happy.

“It’s great to go down the Valley and see all the progress – all the clearing being done, and the pastures are actually green again. This was a beautiful valley, and we’re glad we’re getting that back. But I think it’s going to be a few more years before we actually get there.”

Carl Smith was happy to be alive, and said he found a renewed sense of purpose in the aftermath of the storm.

“A few months after (the tornado), I got salvation,” Smith said. “Then I got a new heart and a new love of God – they got a new daddy, a new grandpa, a new husband. I want to thank God for it.”

Vanessa Smith expressed her gratitude to the volunteer groups who came out to help. A group from Tucker High School in Georgia was on hand as part of the dedication cer-

emony.

“Everybody’s been there,” she said. “I know we’ve accumulated a brand new house from all this, but to me the most important thing is meeting each and every one of y’all.

“I don’t have any family, but it was like a new family being opened up, like running across a long lost brother or sister.”

Harlow said she has met “probably close to 100 groups of people” since the storms.

“Sometimes you come outside in the morning with your work gloves, and there were 40 people standing in your yard that you never met,” she said.

“They’re from Colorado, or Virginia or Texas. We’ve had people from all over the country, and people who didn’t even speak English.

It’s been a real eye-opener for us, as a community.

Will Heath/St. Clair Times

Shoal Creek Valley resident Carl Smith hugs officials from Habitat for Humanity at the dedication of a new house in the valley. Smith and his family were among the many who lost their homes on April 27.

See Homes, Page 11

For listings view our website @ www.kellrealty.com SPRINGVILLE (205) 467-3394 OR 1-888-734-3394

ASHVILLE (205) 594-5391 or 1-800-542-9376

Before

After

Before

After

Make Your Bath Beautiful in Only One Day! Many Styles & Colors to Choose From.

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

Contact us about a FREE in-home consultation SPECIAL OFFER - $600 OFF full tub/shower system Tub or pan, walls and valve/faucet. lifetime

Visit our website at www.mynextbath.com 303916

By WILL HEATH

205-640-3868 or 1-866-696-8228

WARRANTY ask for details

303926

reflections

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 11

Homes

From Page 10

Will Heath/ St. Clair Times

Recipients of the new houses in Shoal Creek Valley include, from left, the Smith family, Sandra Harlow and Debra Richardson.

Not pictured is the Dale family.

“We were kind of a little quiet hidden community, and we all knew our neighbors and we all were friendly.

But since this has happened, we have really worked hard together, for each other.

“I couldn’t imagine the scope of it, not just in our community, but in other areas of Alabama – they have been overwhelmed since last April. But it’s truly a blessing to have so many people with such a good heart.”

As a result, Carl Smith said, his door will always be open.

“Twenty years from now if you need a home, our home is your home,” he said.

Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes.com.

The Shoal Creek Flower, after the storm, reminds us of our faith and hope in recovery.

I am proud to serve as your chairman with a county commission that responded to this disaster, not only with physical resources, but with pains of care and compassion in our hearts.

We wish all of those that suffered in these horrible storms, a recovery that is filled with new hope and assistance from your neighbors both near and far.

We all give thanks to the many people that responded to our needs during this disaster.

12 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

April 27, 2011

Reflections

The day in pictures from around St. Clair County

Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

Brian Schoenhals/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 13

reflections

Will Heath/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

Will Heath/St. Clair Times

Bob Crisp/St. Clair Times

14 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

reflections

Landry recalls fury of storm on April 27

By GARY HANNER St. Clair Times associate editor

Stacy Landry’s home in Shoal Creek Valley was like many others that April 27 day – destroyed.

Fortunately, Landry and her daughter Ro’chele, were not at home, They had left their home and gone to the home of Roger White, along with 17 others.

“We got to Roger’s house just seconds before the tornado hit,” Landry said. “None of us died, but there were so many of us who were injured.”

Landry said Ro’chele suffered a fractured skull

and concussion, along with a piece of glass stuck in her head and “a big knot on the back of her head.”

Her son, Derrell Landry, needed 22 stapes in his back.

Landry said she suffered multiple fractures; her radial bone was protruding out of her right arm.

Because she lost so much blood, Landry was going into shock. Tony Layton and his son come from their house and helped the wounded back to their house, which served as a triage as emergency personnel attempted to enter the valley to help the wounded.

Landry said it was

about five hours before emergency workers could get to them.

“All I could think about was Ro’chele, and if she was OK,” Landry said. “I saw all the children there from ages 2 to 17. I kept my injured arm close to me and clotted it. Denise Bell kept putting blankets on me to keep me from going into shock until help arrived.”

Both Landry and her daughter went to the trauma unit at UAB Hospital.

While Ro’chele was discharged overnight, Landry stayed in the hospital four days. She had no idea her home had been destroyed until she left the hospi-

Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Stacy Landry enjoys sharing her testimony about how Jesus spared her life and her children’s lives the day the tornado hit Shoal Creek Valley.

tal and was on her way home.

“I was very shocked, and just walked around,” she said. “I can’t explain how I felt.”

Landry does know that she is very blessed to be alive, and knows a home can be replaced.

Today, Landry is missing part of her right elbow, has pins in her wrist, and

a plate and screws in her arm. But she is living in a brand new home, thanks to many people.

“Bro. James Sampley with First Baptist Church Ashville, Gallant First Baptist Church, other churches in Gallant, United Way, and the Hero Foundation all raised enough money to get us back into a home,” Landry said. “I lived in a home owned by Mark and Emily Smith while the home was being built.”

As the anniversary approaches, Landry is just thankful to God that she still has her life.

“We are somewhat trying to get back established and our lives back together,” she said. “I pray every day it never happens again.”

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

NEW 2012 FORD FIESTA NEW 2013 FORD EXPLORER NEW 2012 FORD F-150 AFFORDABLE AFFORDABLE AFFORDABLE You’re invited to come see one of our largest new car inventories to date!!

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 15

REFLECTIONS

By GARY HANNER St. Clair Times associate editor

Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Vernon White still has problems sleeping at night. Even one year later, White knows he is very blessed to be alive after the ordeal he went through last April 27.

He knew a huge tornado was rushing toward the Valley, and he was attempting to answer an emergency call.

The fire truck he was driving was “picked up by the tornado, flipped several times and dropped upside down in the Coosa River.”

While upside down in the river, White managed to unbuckle his seat belt, get out of the truck through a broken window and swim to safety.

“When I got to the end of Lock 1 Road, I saw the tornado coming,” White recalled. “I turned left and tried to outrun it. I got a quarter-of-a-mile down the road and the tornado hit me. It picked my truck up, turned it around and around. I don’t know how many times I rolled and rolled and rolled on the ground, but I ended up in the river.”

White said the tornado picked the truck up he knows at least one time and they made a complete circle one time before being dropped in the river.

He estimates the tornado took him and the vehicle 100 to 150 yards before it landed in the water.

“When the tornado first hit the truck, I grabbed hold of the steering wheel and laid down in the seat,” White said.

“The force of the wind blew all of the windows out of the truck. I remember being upside down in the water. I had to hold my breath maybe 30 to 45 seconds as I unbuckled my seatbelt and went out the driver’s side window to get out of and swim to safety.”

The only injury White sustained was a black eye, though he did say he was “real sore” afterwards.

“One year later as you look throughout this valley, you can see all the work that has been done,” White said. “I still have problems thinking about it, knowing what happened to me in the tornado. It still bothers me to know that friends of mine died in the tornado.”

This Saturday, a full day of activities will take place in Shoal Creek Valley. All of the proceeds will go toward the fire department.

White said with the fundraising efforts, the proceeds would go toward building two storm shelters.

One of the storm shelters will be built by fire station two that will hold about 60 people. The second storm shelter will be built by fire station one, and it will hold about 90 people.

White said since last year’s devastating tornado, many residents of Shoal Creek have built their own storm shelters.

“These two storm shelters are for Shoal Creek Valley residents who have no place to go during bad weather,” he said.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

302397

White knows he is blessed to be alive one year later

16 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

reflections

Businesses pitched in after disaster St. Clair Times associate editor

Jan Yates has lived in Shoal Creek Valley since 2004. Living on the backwater of the Coosa River, she did not know about all the devastation and loss of life a tornado left behind April 27 until the next morning.

“The tornado missed our place on the water by about a half mile,” Yates said. “We had one tree down in our yard and we lost power. There was no way to watch the news, so we just went on to bed.”

Yates said even today, it is still hard to put into words about what happened.

“When you come out of your house, and know it is exactly the way it was when you went to bed the night before, it is shocking to realize what happened just a half mile from you,” she said. “My husband,

Joe, got on a bicycle and rode out to the T at highway 22.

“Because we did not have any power, we were leaving to go to Pell City. Right before we left, he told me to brace myself because I was not going to believe what I was about to see.”

And Joe was right. What Jan saw was unbelievable — especially when she saw that her friend Sandra Furr’s (wife of Alan Furr, now the district court judge in St. Clair County) house was completely gone.

“It was just so tragic,” Yates said. “A few days later, my mom and I went back to Shoal Creek Valley to check on things. Two hearses went by with the families that lost the husband and wife.

“You cannot put into words how that feels. To see a family that has lost everything and these children have lost their

parents as well.”

Yates works at the Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union in Pell City. Immediately, the credit union became a drop off area for supplies that were needed.

Supplies like water, ice, food items, clothing, etc. Others donated money for storm victims and the Shoal Creek Fire Department.

Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union branch manager Aimee Morris said she would never forget the terrible storm that hit Shoal Creek Valley.

“We will never forget the devastation and loss of life the tornado left behind,” Morris said. “ And I will never forget the way the people of Shoal Creek and St Clair County came together to help their neighbors. The outpouring of love was phenomenal. It will stay with me forever.”

All the credit union branches

Jan Yates, right, helps with supplies that were donated to tornado victims in Shoal Creek Valley.

served as a drop off area, and supplies went not only to Shoal Creek Valley, but other places throughout the state that had been hit hard by the tornado.

Yates said you could never do enough to help those in need, but

you try.

“Sometimes, you just feel so helpless,” she said.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes.com.

303972

By GARY HANNER

REFLECTIONS

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 17

18 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

reflections

Ragland is ‘fortunate’ after disaster Town sustained damage but no deaths in storms While there were no causalities in Ragland April 27, 2011, many homes and businesses were destroyed. The town also lost its public library.

Now, after one year, plans are in motion to move forward in build a new library, much to the delight of the citizens.

Many things have taken place in the past few months to make a new library a reality.

Since the devastating tornado, the town council has worked with the library board members and hired an architect.

It was last August when Metro Bank made a generous donation of land if a library would be built there.

The land is located where The Family Grill used to be. It is at the intersection

Visit us online at www.thestclairtimes. com

of Providence Road and Main Street across from the Food Barn.

The entire council thought this location would be ideal for the new library.

Mayor Lanis White said they would hire architect Ronald G. Cannon to draw up some plans and sit down with the council and library board to let him know more about what they want.

Finally, at the last council meeting, the town council voted unanimously to go with the low bid of $280,000 from Allen Building Company of Rainbow City, to build the new library.

“I think we are extremely blessed to be in the situation we are in,” White said.

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

Serving Central St. Clair County Since 1959

Gary Hanner/ St. Clair Times

Workers struggle to clear roads after the April 27 storm that affected the town of Ragland. The town suffered substantial damage to buildings, including the library, but no injuries in the storm. Recently, the town moved forward with plans to build a new public library.

ODENVILLE UTILITY BOARD 14292 US Highway 411 Odenville, AL 35120 (205) 629-5801

The April 2011 Tornados left a huge scar in the Shoal Creek Valley, but the people are resilient and they are not going to give up.

My heart goes out to my many friends and neighbors who suffered unimaginable loss during this catastrophic event. We will continue to keep these families in our thoughts and prayers and offer our support in any way possible as this small, but mighty community works toward recovery.

Lyman Lovejoy Lovejoy Realty

Serving St. Clair County for Over 40 Years!

303906

St. Clair Times associate editor

303908

By GARY HANNER

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 19

This is what Gupton’s trailer looked like the next day after the tornado hit.

St. Clair Times associate editor

Born in 1928 on an old creek bank alongside the old home place, A.J. Gupton said he has never seen anything so devastating than the April 27 tornado last year.

Gupton is proud to call Shoal Creek Valley home, but “it sure has a different look about it.”

Last year, the tornado destroyed the 16 x 60foot mobile home where Gupton lived. He was sitting in his recliner when the tornado hit. He said he opened the front door, and rode the storm out sitting in his recliner with his feet up.

“When I started getting wet is when I got up out of the recliner,” he said. “My old black truck was parked at the edge of the back porch, and I went and got in it. The roof came down on it. The straight-line winds behind the tornado almost blew the truck over with me sitting in it.

“I was still sitting in the truck when they found me.

And it took them awhile to get to me because the roads were blocked with all the timber. I backed my truck

out from under the porch, and I sat right here in my driveway until they found me, which was about 3 a.m. Thursday morning.”

Gupton said he knows he is a very blessed man, and also knows it wasn’t time for God to take him from this earth.

“The treetops were bending over sideways,” he said. “It only lasted about 15 to 20 seconds.”

Now, thanks to many, many people, Gupton lives in a new home that was built for him. It is 32-foot wide by 40-foot long, two bedrooms, and two baths.

He has a front porch and back porch.

He was able to move into his new home in October. He lived in a camper trailer in front of the house until it was complete.

“There is no way I can say thank you enough to all the people who helped me,” Gupton said.

“It took so many people working together to make this become a reality. I am so thankful. I can’t really describe how I feel. I really do enjoy living in my new home.”

While his new home was being built, Gupton stayed with his next-door neighbor.

“He gave me a room, and I stayed with him for a little over a month,” Gupton said. “The first three nights I stayed with my daughter in Southside, but that was not close enough. I wanted to be right here.”

Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes. com.

Belin Law Firm, L.L.C. Larry J. Belin

SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL & NEW CONSTRUCTION SERVICE, REPAIR & REPLACEMENT Free Estimates • Lic & Insured In Business for Over 15 Years

Name: DALE HALPIN DSL HOMES Width: 4.882 in We at Depth: 5 in Color: Black Ad Number: 303933

DSL HOME SALES in Moody

are happy that we could, in some small way, help people affected by last year’s storms. We always strive to do our very best for each customer, but we made every extra effort to help everyone affected by this horrible event.

We are pleased to see the recovery go well and will continue to pray for those who lost more than replaceable property.

COME SEE US FOR ALL YOUR HOUSING NEEDS. WE HAVE NEW AND USED HOMES OF EVERY SIZE. 2203 MOODY PARKWAY, MOODY, AL 35004

Attorney at Law 13260 US Highway 411 • Suite 400 Odenville, AL 35120

(205)640-9720

(205) 629-2202 belinlaw@bellsouth.net

KWIK AIRE

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING au (205) 680-1070

303927

303931

By GARY HANNER

RIGHT: Gupton sits in the new recliner in his new home one year after the tornado.

303933

Recliner gave Gupton front-row seat to storm

Gary Hanner/ St. Clair Times

20 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

REFLECTIONS

Moody’s Dale McCrory moves on after wife of 38 years dies in tornado

By GARY HANNER

St. Clair Times associate editor

Twelve hours before a massive EF-5 tornado slammed Shoal Creek Valley April 27, 2011, storms rumbled through other areas of St. Clair County, killing a Moody woman – Sandra Gayle McCrory, 56.

Dale and Sandra McCrory lived on McCrory Road, off Kelly Creek Road for the past 30 years.

“I was already up, and on the other end of the house,” Dale said.

“Our daughter-in-law, Windi, called and Sandra was on the phone with her. Windi told my wife that we needed to be aware of storms that were headed our way. They talked on the phone for about 10 minutes.

“As soon as she hung up the phone, she lay back down in the bed, and that’s when a huge poplar tree came crashing into the bedroom. If she had still been sitting at her desk, she may have still been alive. Her desk was not harmed.”

Dale said it took rescue workers five hours to reach them because of

all the trees in the roads.

“Our son John tried to get in there to his mother,” Dale said. “He tried to knock a window out and cut everyone of the tendons in his arm.

He continued to work, and was on a tractor for five hours clearing roads trying to get rescue workers in to get to his mom. Later on that night, he was in surgery for six hours as doctors repaired his arm.”

Dale said he could not reach his wife because the door was jammed and tree limbs had caved the ceiling in.

“I could barely get my head in, and all I could see was trees,” he said. “I hollered and screamed for her, but I couldn’t get her to say anything.”

Dale said St. Clair County Sheriff ’s Department Deputy Freddie Turrentine, who lives nearby, came down.

“He and another deputy finally got into the bedroom,” Dale said.

“About an hour later, they come told me that she was gone. Freddie said there was no blood anywhere,

and that she probably went instantly. I’m thankful she did not lay in there and suffer.”

Dale said for the first month afterwards, he lived with his son Jason and his family. FEMA brought a trailer right across the road from his former house. That’s where he lives while builds a new home.

Dale and Sandra have three sons – Jason, John, and David. They have six grandchildren.

“We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary on April 14, and she died 13 days later,” Dale said.

“It’s hard to pick up and move on.

I do believe she is in a better place – that’s just the way I believe. She loved the Easter season, and Easter was the Sunday before the tornado on Wednesday.

“We had 50 to 100 kids over here finding Easter eggs. I have the satisfaction of knowing she had a happy day just prior to her leaving this world.”

Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Dale McCrory stands in front of the new home Contact Gary Hanner at ghanthat is under construction. ner@thestclairtimes.com

Michael B. Honan MD, FACC

SPECIALTY CLINIC Professional Building 7063 Veterans Parkway Suite 110, Pell City, AL

205-884-0434

Elizabeth Branscomb MD, FACC

302799

“Our hearts are with yours as we remember.”

REFLECTIONS

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 21

Helping You Enhance Your Shoreline Living Experience Our Services Include

205.338.7500

~Custom Dock & Boathouse Construction ~Dock Renovations ~Boatlifts ~Seawalls ~Electrical & Underwater Lighting ~Annual Maintenance Program

www.tradesmanco.com

308258

22 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

MACKEY

reflections

DOCKS AND BOAT HOUSES

Mackey Family

Celebrating 23 Years Serving Logan Martin Lake

A Year Later... and we are still committed to helping you get back to normal.

Gary Hanner/St. Clair Times

Federal representatives from the Small Business Association were on hand after the tornado to help citizens with recovery funding.

EMA ‘the hidden part’ of tornado relief effort

By WILL HEATH St. Clair Times editor

Less than 24 hours before the morning of April 27, St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency director took to Facebook for a little extra warning.

“I’ve been in this business so long now, for 20 years – you know those systems that are coming,” Ellen Haynes said. “I put something out on Facebook about it.

I said, ‘This is one to pay attention to.’

“Every now and then you have those serious systems, and there’s no excuse not to know, because it’s all over TV, news, all over everything – everybody’s talking about the system that’s coming. And this was one of those.”

Haynes and others were right about their dire predictions, and then some. The tornadoes that ripped through St. Clair County and the rest of the state were both destructive and deadly — in St. Clair

County, 15 people died in Moody, Pell City and Shoal Creek Valley.

Haynes — whose job revolves around preparing county officials and other citizens for disasters like April 27, as well as dealing with the aftermath — watched much of it from the Emergency Operations Center in Pell City.

“At that point, you’re just hoping and praying that people everywhere have been listening and watching for this, and that they’re taking it seriously,” she said. “In the days and weeks afterwards, people were telling me stories about that. ‘My son called me and said, “Mom, you need to go. C’mon. You need to come to my house.”’ That person would be in Trussville, or somewhere.

“You heard time after time with people saying, ‘This is serious. You need to come.’”

See EMA, Page 23

•8X8 Beams •Curve Decorative Y-Braces •30 Year Metal Roof •Quality Materials •6500 Lb. Boatlift All Galvanized w/Remote Control •Screwed Decking •Thru Bolt Band & Framing •Aluminum Ladders •Double PWC Sunport Lift •Storage Room For a King •Dock Bumpers •Flip Up Cleats

205-525-4933 205-369-1569 mackeydocks.com

303971

St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 23

reflections

EMA

From Page 1A

Haynes estimates the EMA took 300 phone calls per day for three weeks after April 27, helping to connect local government officials with state and federal agencies, for aid and for reimbursement.

Through much of that, however, Haynes and others were not visible parts of the effort.

“We were kind of like the hidden piece of the response,” she said. “Normally in a disaster, we’re out door to door – we get with state EMA and Red Cross and go door to door. That’s our normal operating procedure.

“You couldn’t do normal this time.

Normal wasn’t normal this time. This was very abnormal. So we’re not out doing traffic control, seen in uniform – we’re the unseen piece, but very vital piece of this.”

Haynes said she is quite proud of the way the disaster was handled, both at the local and state level.

“I’m very proud, not just of the EMA, but the way the whole county responded together,” she said. “Our county did some innovative things. One thing I was really proud that our county did was, they made fuel available to volunteers, to help with private property debris. A lot of folks had big trucks, but fuel is very expensive.

“There were churches that provided fuel. Our churches were just amazing.

Our county also got Shoal Creek Valley Fire Department to request assistance with firebreaks and alleviating a fire hazard.

“I’m really proud of the State EMA.

I’ve been sitting here where they didn’t do so well. They were always responsive – I never called them, that they didn’t respond. I never put in an email they didn’t answer as quickly as possible.”

And when the need for federal aid became apparent, FEMA responded with a disaster team that stayed on the ground in Shoal Creek Valley and made itself very visible.

“They put them on the ground in Shoal Creek, and those ladies never left Shoal Creek,” she said. “They went to every single event here in our county and Moody and Pell City. They went to Relay for Life events; they were very visible.

“If there was an event, they were there with their shirts on, and they were there to answer questions. They were there mainly to encourage people to apply, and if they had any problems, they were trying to get a handle on those.”

Haynes’ group is still actively attempting to secure funding for community shelters throughout the county. Many have already been approved at the federal level.

“These community shelters are coming, and I’m really excited about them,” she said. “I think another year from now, hopefully they’ll either be installed, or being installed.

“There’s still so much public assistance stuff going on, with the cities and with our county, and we are still having to do a lot of that.”

Contact Will Heath at wheath@thestclairtimes.com.

ALWAYS Ready!

Alabama Remodeling •Seawalls & Boatdocks with lifts •Decks •Flooring •Framing •Landscaping •Metal Roofing •Painting •Sheetrock •Tile •Trim •Windows •Specializing in Kitchens & Baths I strive daily to provide the most professional remodeling experience possible.

256-525-8792 Will Heath/St. Clair Times

St. Clair County officials met in the EMA’s Emergency Operations Center immediately following the April 27 tornadoes.

303968

I do this with a high level of honesty, integrity and exceptional workmanship.

24 – St. Clair Times, Thursday, April 26, 2012

REFLECTIONS

303904