Tuscaloosa, Alabama was the scene of a tragic thunderstorm that took the life of at least 32 people. The mile long tornado carried winds reaching up to two hundred mph, and left everything in its path completely destroyed. Brittany Shields, a student at the University of Mississippi, was left worrying about her boyfriend, a resident of Tuscaloosa.
“It took me so long to come in to contact with him, which left me very concerned,” said Shields.
Although Mark lost his home and his vehicle, he and his roommates were unharmed, except for a few cuts and bruises. Not the same can be said for others, the tornado caused 195 deaths in the state of Alabama, 32 in Tuscaloosa. Many were left homeless and unable to acquire food. Good Morning America Video
On Wednesday April 27th, President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for the search and rescue responses in Alabama. Danielle Schlegelmilch, a Red Cross employee, was immediately on the scene following the terrible twister. The American Red Cross provided relief for those left without their home. The Red Cross is also distributing relief supplies and providing emotional support for the victims. Over 1500 people have sought refuge in the Red Cross shelters across Alabama. The American Red Cross
Danielle stated, “We will be here to provide aid until we are no longer needed, we still have a lot of work left to do.”
While relief efforts seem to be put in place, precautions for severe storms such as these are not always taken seriously. At the University of Mississippi, classes were not cancelled; causing students to believe the threat was not serious. Precautions need to be taken to allow a safe environment for all.
“After witnessing what happened to the University of Alabama, we all should take things more seriously and take the proper precautions necessary,” said Shields.
