I drove from Huntsville, Al to outside of Chattanooga tonight with my 80 YO mother.

She has Alzheimer's. Last night she woke me up screaming because she fell and cut herself. I had to use candlelight to find her.
After I fixed her up and put her back to bed, I heard gunshots. I never hear gunshots, but we're totally without power and they are looting. My Brother is an ER DOC, Iraqi War Vet and total hero and I called him this morning and told him what happened.got the last hotel room on the outskirts. My Mother finally gets to watch the Royal Wedding and I have Internet access again.

My poor Gentleman Friend is the Manager of the Electrical Department of the Util Company. The tornadoes here took down the transmission towers from TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Plant shut down because there was no place to distribute electricity. This is one of the worse crisis we've ever faced and he is working 14 to 15 hours a day. We prob won't have power until Tuesday or Wed. Please don't hate on Huntsville or Tuscaloosa. We are suffering. I'm not. I have resources but I saw a lot of poor people suffering today.

to those of us not in the middle of it.

Shame on any of us DUers who would hate on people of Huntsville or Tuscaloosa as though we have no compassion. I hope that isn't happening and I'm sure that our hearts go out to them.

Get up at 5:30 or 6 and drive and try to find gas. Lines were formed. There is no power because Browns Ferry had an emergency shut down. My Sweetie called and said they gave him enough power for the 2 hospitals but they simply don't have that much more. He is frantically trying to re-route the grid for us. People are pouring in bringing us generators. No ATM's, no gas, no food. It's really old school and I can handle it but others are freaking. They've forgotten how to read a book.

I saw the Milky Way for the first time in years last night. No power from a city. :-) Amazing. There are blessings.

I'm frazzled and I haven't had internet or electricity until today. I sound like a raving lunatic and I want to represent Alabama well. Tomorrow I will check back in. It's really bad. I saw terrible things today.

Glad at least you have power now and hope it's getting better every day. Thanks for checking in to describe the situation - I know it has to be desperate and like being in hell right now.

See? I love people who give practical help.

I've already donated my poor mite. If there's anything we can do from here, we will.

The first things I read were of people loading their SUVs with water and toiletries and anything they could think of and driving down.

Tuscaloosa isn't sealed off, like New Orleans was. Aid will reach you. It will reach Huntsville.

And if you think the people of New York don't remember the trucks that drove all night to get to us, you're mistaken. We remember.

Another thing I saw online was people were calling all unaffected churches to organize donations and help. Since churches are strong in that area, you KNOW that help will be coming from all directions, fairly nearby ones.

The horror is the scope of the thing. This is so huge, just accounting for the missing is going to take too long.

And don't tell me you're not suffering because you're better off than so many others. You are. You are entitled to your grief, your pain, your mourning. THIS IS A HUGE LOSS. Streets you knew that are gone. Home not being like home. Expect some nightmares.

This could have happened to any of us. And, in the coming years, likely will. If we don't stand together, we will fall apart.

And if any night you need to come on here and scream, GO FOR IT. Just give us some background and we'll stand with you, adding our prayers or cursing your enemies, whatever you need.

Vent away. Please. :hug:

that drove all night to get to us, you're mistaken. We remember." Well, that brought a lump to my throat.

I remember now. And we have this wonderful Black college here called Oakwood University that has great choirs and such.

They will come from everywhere to help you. I know the Red Cross has already sent out buses of volunteers. I have a friend who spends her vacations rebuilding New Orleans. There will be people like that for you.

Remember this, you're all pretty much still in shock. Atheists and agnostics of DU listen up, this is one of those times when religion is a real help. If you've got it, lean on it. Take whatever comfort you can.

That MANY atheists and agnostics, INCLUDING MYSELF,
donate money and blood to with regularity.

Listen up.

:eyes:

in their head.

and the Salvation Army is a tax-free, big-box purveyor
of used clothing!

Easy to mix-up...


:hi:

:rofl: :spray:

Wish you were here. :cry:

They're up front, cracking me up with their
"SingStar" abilities.

Nicole would be a positive addition to this
caterwauling.

I can't believe I just spelled "caterwauling"
right on the first try!

Nicole's going away party is today. It's freaking hot and windy.

I noticed you've held yourself back from posting on
my "Garage Sale" thread in the lounge.

And don't forget, YOUR word is:

enthusiastically

While the Red Cross fund raises and buys office furniture.

But they did send the buses of volunteers.

And, in a completely separate paragraph, I did advocate that people in a highly religious area lean on that resource as much as they need to.

While the Red Cross fund raises and buys office furniture.

But they did send the buses of volunteers.

And, in a completely separate paragraph, I did advocate that people in a highly religious area lean on that resource as much as they need to.

them for the people they were intended for. Speaking from experience.

I know this because they sent a bunch of criminals from New Jersey to my upstate NY community that caused a marked increase in gang violence and drug smuggling. It was in the paper.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/newark_nj_church_bused_heroin.html
Newark, NJ, church bused heroin addicts to Syracuse for Salvation Army rehab program

Syracuse, NY -- Martin Hand was a homeless heroin addict on the streets of Newark, N.J., in 2001 when the Rev. Anthony Hawthorne handed him a one-way bus ticket to Syracuse.
Recognizing that hot food was not enough to save his flock, Hawthorne built a relationship with the Salvation Army in Syracuse where he estimates as many as 700 New Jersey drug addicts were shipped to a six-month drug rehab program at a center on Erie Boulevard East.
Many, like Hand, completed the treatment and started over in their new city. He got a job as a janitor at the Syracuse airport, moved into a house built by Habitat for Humanity and got married. In July, he will be sober nine years.
Another graduate of the program, Geneva Brown, didn’t fare as well, according to police. Brown was charged last week with setting up a heroin warehouse on John Street as part of a major pipeline of drugs from New Jersey to Syracuse. She was on probation in New Jersey in 2000 when she came to Syracuse for the Salvation Army drug rehab program, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Katko said in court Friday.

Please.

Please.

Try READING.

On Edit:
Nice unnecessary and unasked for slam on atheists and agnostics, though.

Always helpful.

We get hate because of where we live. I live in a very progressive town with a major university which is a division of UA Tuscaloosa (Roll Tide!) but we're not just about football. I have a B.S. But we're all human beings.

Let's see what can be done about lifting you all up.

AND WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SPONSOR A COMPETITION FOR TORNADO PROOF HOUSING? There's got to be something we can invent that lessens this damage.

I can't think of anything else that is having seen brick buildings reduced to rubble.

Brandon (my son-in-law) was part of an R&R team that came down after the storm. Even this miserly, redder than blood state organized and supplied assistance because the people made so many telephone calls/emails/snailmails to our rich repuke friends, they couldn't say "no" and expect reelection.

This tornado storm hits a little closer to home for me. Both my stepsons and my daughter were born in the Birmingham area, and I've dealt with Alzheimer victims. I'd love to know if Dreamland in Tuscaloosa (actually a little outside the town) is still standing.

I'm grateful that my extended family is able to provide assistance in this emergency (one of my stepsons is an EMT as are 3 of my ex's nephews).

Katrina will be forever remembered, at least by those of us who have been through some of Mother Earth's more dire warnings. You have my best wishes. New Orleans is a planet all it's own.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

hugs to you and anyone who hates on you has issues that are beyond help

We're with you.

:loveya:

:hug:

:hug:

from a Red state Dem who lives in the heart of frickin tornado alley

I know folks from our area are already arriving to offer what assistance they can. And I know at least one local group is specifically going to help in some of the smaller lesser known rural areas. Help is coming.

I know that doesn't sound like much when you're sitting in the dark alone. Even without major personal loss the disruption to everyday life is overwhelming. I remember the terrible frustration and devastation following one of our major ice storms when I went without utilities for well over a week. And that was nothing compared to the devastation here. Modern conveniences are gone. You can't find batteries. Or bottled water. Or candles. Or gasoline. Or reliable timely news. Some streets are impassable. Grocery stores are picked clean of bottled water and ready to eat items that don't require preparation or refrigeration. If you have a cooler you probably can't find ice. Communications suck so you probably don't know if/who among your circle of acquaintances has been directly impacted or killed or injured.

It will take a long time but the debrtis and devastation will be cleaned up - and the area will be rebuilt. But it will never be what it was. And the lives of many have been forever changed.

Sending warm thoughts and prayers your way - and a bit of $$$ to help as best I can.

Hang in there.

:hug:

to deal with. I remember one summer we had a week-long power outage, both my parents in different stages of dementia. It was hard to keep things regular for them. And that was without the terrible surrounding damage you are dealing with. Thinking of you and your family, bamademo.

:grouphug:

prayers and vibes for you and yours. very difficult.

Expect power to be out until late Monday or Tuesday. People are driving to Tennessee to get ice and gasoline.

.

:hug::hug::hug::grouphug::hug::hug:

My daughter's husband is on one of the rescue/recovery teams. They live in Alabaster, which was fortunately skipped by the tornadoes. My ex-hubby, with whom I'm still friends, says it is a huge disaster, and my heart and all good karma are focused in your direction.

Edited to add: My daughter is a Bama (Tuscaloosa) grad and got her master's at UAB. I love both Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, having had the privilege of meeting Bear Bryant at the Alabama/Auburn match (we kicked ass) in 1982 or 1983 (sorry, memory isn't strong). Both my daughter and I went to Space Camp in H'ville in about 1989.

All my love to you, your significant other, and your mom. My father-in-law (recently passed away) lived with us during his bout with Alzheimer's for 7 years.

Thanks for letting us know, bamademo, peace to you and your family.

I wish everyone a speedy recovery. I'm glad your mother can watch tv again. I know how difficult it is to care for your mother with alzheimers. It's so important for them to be in familiar surroundings.

My heart goes out to all of you there.

for all who are suffering. no hate, just best wishes for y'all.