Posted: 4/29/2011 10:23:05 AM EDT
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I documented the damage in Fultondale and Pleasant Grove. I embedded my self with first responders documenting what they do. This is only a small sample of the thousands of photos and they still do the damage no justice. I am proud of my state, I saw no one begging or expecting anything be given to them. No one said they were owed anything. Every one I met were happy to be alive and were ready to rebuild. Neighbors were helping one another and sharing what little food and water they had. The police were brave and searched into debris that no one should. Since I have a press badge I was able to go were others were not. This is a prime example to show that anything can happen at any time. And why when someone laughs at my preps from now on I will show them these.
The Fultondale Fire Dept. The roof was torn completely off. Luckily no one was in the building at the time. 
The people who lived around this wreckage said that no police officers lived around them and that the pick up truck was not there before the storm. 
Congressman Bachus and James Spann 
Irondale Mayor Tommy Joe Alexander 
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I'm going to drop mine in here too, if you don't mind. From the other thread: Our church sent out a 3-truck convoy today delivering food to the Fultondale area devastation zones (with local PD permission). Tomorrow we will be doing to same, as well as loading up chainsaws and able bodies to go back and assist. Pretty messed up. If you are interested in helping - pm/email me.   |
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Here are day two`s photos, this time the destination was Pratt City. A couple of interesting things I noticed about this devastation area that I think I will note in the Survival section. Mainly allot of the cars had their gas tank lids forced open to get to the gas. Second I came across a couple of lock box1s that had been broken into. When interviewing one of the Commanders on scene I was told what they did with firearms that were discovered among the damage. The firearms would be taken into custody with the best location/address of where it was found. The firearm would be turned into the armory and tagged. Owners of missing weapons could call give the serial and description to see of the department has custody of it. The owners could then retrieve the weapon. This is UNLIKE another southern city that just stole guns from people during their emergency.
I should be hitting Tuscaloosa tomorrow so expect another update. 
Hey there I am overlooking the valley. As you could see I brought my own police tape (camera strap) the cops always love it. You cant see it but I have a 5.11 bad holding another camera with a couple of lens, batteries and other du-dads for taking pictures. The vest holding even more stuff and keeping the Piece I have on my hip hidden. Hey I have to keep protected in case someone in the "woods" see`s a journalist with pawnable camera stuff. I would be the wrong target. And a Blackhawk hydration bag with some snacks and medical stuff, I don`t want to add to the first responders problems. 
One of the safest streets in Birmingham. 
Look Ma! I`m carrying a club, I asked and at least they had mags in the pocket. But Look at Jefferson County S.W.A.T. That I was with on Day one Locked and Loaded they knew whats up. 
This place looked like a scene from the Hurt Locker. 
Today I mostly followed Birmingham Fire and Alabama Heavy Rescue 1 again on DB detail. The dog hit a couple of times but it was only a dead chicken. 
In this area only Two DB`s have been found and that was on Friday when I was in Pleasant Grove. 
A K9 handler watching her partner search. 
Diligently searching for remains. 
BPD Chief A.C.Roper 
The whole house is gone but the fridge stood still. 
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| I still do my XD stuff, but I have always loved photography. And because of the gun stuff some of the gun magazines gave me press credentials. I make money as a photographer now but not full time, work is still sporadic. But I did get my membership in the Professional Outdoor Media Association. So basically I am doing the grunt work, poor starving artist thing to get to that level. So what ever photo gig I can get I jump on it no matter how small. Thanks I am heading to Tuscaloosa today. Please feel free to share the photos. |
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Quoted:
Thank you for posting the pics, my heart just sinks everytime I see pics like these. Prayers sent to all the people who whose lives were turned upside down by these storms. God help us all but especially those who suffered the loss of loved ones.. I'm without words. thank you, Rustee, for speaking what my heart wanted to say... thank you, OP, for the amazing pictures. they convey the reality of it all infinitely more clearly than the news stories... |
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glenn_r,
I don't think there are any mobile homes in these photos. Almost all of the houses in Pratt City, and many of the Pleasant Grove houses, are built over crawlspaces, not basements. Most houses around here that are over 50 years old and smaller than 2000 sq ft (which is fairly typical of the homes in both locales) will not have basements. |
| Thanks for all the pics, having lived in and around Birmingham for over 45 yrs these pictures are so hard to look at. I am so thankful all my family and friends are okay. I will be making a trip to the area soon to help where I can, so many in need. The Tuscaloosa tornado missed my sister's house by less than a mile. |
I made it safe down to Tuscaloosa. When you get off the freeway exit 73 you see no damage and life looks like normal. There is heavy traffic but this is normal for this area. I headed down McFarland towards Veterans Memorial Parkway/15th St. I passed the Memorial park were the Huey and crusader were still on the pedestals. Then just 300 yrds down the road at the main intersection just total damage.
While friends and family were sorting belongings they were relived to find the newlyweds cherished crimson and white bridal gown. 
Organizing whats left. 
My wife in her 4runner waiting for me to come back to the vehicle. We did not get to use the 4x4. 
This is how you prep to run your generator. 
The Krispy Kreme was destroyed and doughnut stuff was all over the neighborhood. 
Alabama Power had at least a dozen crews on this one street alone getting this vital route back up and running. 
This sign gets knocked down almost every major storm. 
After the tornado guns were all over the place in the ruble. 
The emptiest you will ever see 15th St. 
Forest lake damage 
I had been walking for three days so I was glad to get off my feet for a minute. 
The board went right through the tail gate. 
I think they are trying to say something. Look at the sign in the neighbors yard, I bet these two never get along. 
The Montgomery PD at dusk on bike patrol around the Forest Lake neighborhood. 
I think thats Hank williams. 
As the sun sets an old fashioned convoy of Shelby County Sheriffs deputies heading out for patrol. 
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Quoted:
Hey do you guys want me to keep going I literally have thousands of photos. yes, please... if you'd rather host them somewhere else and just put a link here, that should be fine - kindof a pain to host them and then post all the various links here... these are just mindblowing... all of the devastation and still some hope in some of them.... the quilt one just about made me cry. all of the priceless family heirlooms... insurance covers some stuff; it doesn't replace those. |
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Thank you for sharing all of these images! Were you familiar with any of these areas before the storm?
I would be interested in buying a DVD (or few) of your photos, particularly of the PG area. Of course I say this without having a clue what that would cost. 
My family and I suck at the whole photo-recordkeeping bit and I would like something to show my sons of their birth place (2-1/2 and 1). Thanks! |
| Yes please continue, or host them somewhere and share a link. I have family in Huntsville (they're ok) but these pics help drive home certain lessons I want my young kids to learn––that storms CAN kill you, DO take the weather seriously, DO prepare and evaluate your RISKS, and so on... |
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I went back to Pleasant Grove and Pratt City to see what updates have happened.
Pleasant Grove 
The food and jars are still in place. 
I think I would take up the cleanup with pants and gloves since there is lots of nasty stuff laying around. 
Pratt City 
This is an interesting monument........Dedicated to those who lost their lives in the tornados of 1977 
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