Alabama 4/98 Tornado

During the night of April 8, 1998, a massive tornado made it's way
through three counties in Alabama. These three counties were
Jefferson, St. Clair and Tuscaloosa. President Bill Clinton declared
them to be a National Disaster. It has been said that this severe storm
system that made it's way through Alabama on the night of April 8 and
the early morning hours of April 9th. is the second worst storm in Alabama's
history. This tornado also spawned several destructive tornadoes that
hit other areas. It was reported that the tornado that hit Jefferson County
was a F-5 and had winds of more than 260 mph. It wrecked its havoc
on an area for approximately 21 miles near downtown Birmingham.
 

Not only were there numerous homes destroyed or damaged by this tornado,
the Oak Grove High School/Elementary School was demolished and more than
1,200 students had to attend classes elsewhere. The band members had been
invited to go to Disney World in Florida to play. They lost all of their uniforms
and band instruments to the tornado. Some businesses, along with Disney World
saw to it that the band members were still able to do this by replacing their
uniforms and their instruments for them. Humanity is still alive and doing well.
 

The American Red Cross operated two shelters that housed several people
and there were also several other shelters being ran by local officials. Then
other Red Cross Volunteers were activated to the area and started helping
the people that were affected by this tornado. I was dispatched as Mass Care.
Another Volunteer and myself drove our ERV 2030 to Birmingham to assist with
the feeding out in the area for the people that were busy doing clean-up. I ended
up taking our ERV and being a stationary feeding unit in Pratt City. My partner
wound up delivering clean-up kits and whatever else was needed for him to do.
 

After the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, in
Oklahoma City, Phillips Petroleum, Southwestern Bell Telephone, Oxy and
Whirlpool went together and purchased not one, but two, 18 wheeler truck
and trailer. These companies had these trucks and trailers designed and
equipped to be used on disasters. They are called "EM TRAC" which stands
for Emergency Training and Response Action Center. They were donated to
the American Red Cross in memory of the Victims of the Oklahoma City
Bombing. One is housed at the Red Cross Chapter in Oklahoma City and the
other is housed in Tulsa. This Disaster was the first time that one of them had
been activated as they had only just been put into service. It was dispatced to
be set up in Pratt City, Alabama. Although they are primarily for use in a
Disaster Area where there is no buildings available for Red Cross to set up,
they have also been requested by different companies and organizations to
do a "Goodwill" type show to let the people know about them and their use.
 

On April 14th, we noticed that there was a lot of "important looking" people
going around looking at everything. I (being my normal "nosey" self)
went over to one of these "important looking" guys and asked if he minded
telling me what was going on. Not only did I find out that he was a indeed a
Secret Service Agent, but that they were "securing the area" and making
arrangements for the arrival of the President the next day. (I ended up being
a participant in their plans and will explain later on in the pictures). We were
told that the President and his entourage would be arriving the next morning
about 9 a.m. and that we (the Red Cross Volunteers) had to be inside the area
and in our places by 7 a.m. and of course we were.
 

On the morning of April 15th, we were all there and set up by 7 a.m. as we
had been told to be. President Clinton and his entourage did indeed arrive in
Pratt City at about 9 a.m. that morning. It just so happens that this "ole gal"
had been assigned to the Pratt City Area and was there to witness the
President's arrival. I was able to get some pictures of his arrival. He and his
entourage went into the Community Center and talked with some of the people
of Pratt City, other Community Leaders and News Media. After he finished inside
he came outside to visit with some of the Citizens that had gathered to talk to him.
When he came out of the building, flanked by Secret Service of course, he came
over to where most of the Red Cross Volunteers had gathered to get a "look" at
him. Not only was I able to get some pictures of this (to show family and friends)
but I got to shake his hand. Now I know not many people, including myself, care
for President Bill Clinton, but he is the President of the United States. To me, I feel
that this was possibly a "once in a life time" thing, not because of who he is, but
because of the Office and the Title that he holds. (When I got home, I called my
daughter and son-in-law (who is military) to tell them about this expecting mainly
to get an "argument" out of the son-in-law. Well, did he ever FOOL me!!! He told
me that it was something that I would be able to tell the grandkids when they got
older. Now wasn't that "nice" of him to not "rain on my parade" so to speak.
 

The Birmingham area was the site of most of the destruction. Preliminary
estimates indicated that over 1,100 Arkansas homes of all types were adversely
affected by the storms. In Jefferson County it was reported that 334 homes were
destroyed, by far the heaviest damage of the declared counties. Not only did
this tornado cause millions of dollars in damage to homes and property, it also
claimed the lives of 34 people. It was also said that over 5,000 acres of timber
was down over the three-county area, totaling over $3 million in damage.
 

This page is basically my information page about the Alabama Tornado. To see
pictures, scroll down and click on "Next" to take you to the starting page of them.
Except for the ones with me in them, the following pictures were taken
either by me or for me with my camera.
 

Please remember that all information and pictures on these pages
are protected under the copyright laws of the United States.
They cannot and may not be used or altered for use on any
other site without permission from the owner.
© January 20, 2000 Bertha Rudisill Desormeaux
 

If at any time, while you are visiting my Red Cross Disaster pages
and you see a picture of your "home or property", I will remove it.
But I will only do so after you have confirmed it to my satisfaction.

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