I get by with a little help from my friends.
5:45 am. I awake to the sounds of tornado sirens screaming through the dark sky. Annoyed, to say the least.
7:00 am. Sirens. 9:00 am, sirens. 10:30, sirens. It continued all day, until the power lines were all blown away...and we were left in total darkness, but worst of all, silence. I spent the day hiding in stairwells from funnel clouds above my office, to running from them on the road. Fear...terror.
Living in Huntsville comes with lots of tornado warnings. I’m used to it and have grown to not give it a second thought. April 27, 2011 has forever changed my thoughts on sirens. I’ll never hear another one and take it lightly.
April 28th I awoke, not knowing what “really” happened. It wasn’t until I got in the car and heard the announcements on the radio of the disaster that had taken place, blocks from my home in all directions. Bombs were dropping out of the sky, taking lives and exploding neighborhoods.
We heard we would be without power for 5-7 days. Many fled the area. We chose to stay. After seeing the devastation, guilt set in. I felt SO lucky to have my home and my family and yet so guilty that I did still have my wonderful life. I knew I had to help. I knew I HAD to give back, or go insane.
I threw myself into helping others clean up what was their home and donating my time finding them a roof over their heads. A place to recover and heal. I needed this as much as these families needed my help.
Our area has now been declared a Cat 1 disaster area...that’s what 9/11 and Katrina were ranked. It is THAT bad. Many of you have wanted to know what you can do to help. I am researching now and will write a post tomorrow as to what our community truly needs. I know the Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way can always use the help.
Not having power and poor cell signals at best for days left me feeling very secluded. My lifeline was my phone and the few Facebook updates I would get. My phone email inbox became my saving grace when I was lucky enough to have a signal to read them. Today, we are back with full power and tonight, Internet!!!
I want to thank each and everyone of my friends here in the Rain for all of the many emails, Facebook messages and phone calls. Honestly, you brought a bit of sunshine to my life each day.
For those that question WHY they would ever become a member of Active Rain, I’m here to say, this is why. We are a community that cares about one another. I have the Facebook, email and phone messages to prove it.
Thanks to my Active Rain family....I got by with a little help from my friends.
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