~ GOD IN THIS CITY ~ Tornado Outbreak April 26-28, 2011

Tornadoes swept through seven southern states this past week, including my home state of Georgia, leaving behind catastrophic destruction in its wake. There were hundreds killed, thousands injured and damage to homes and businesses estimated to be into the billions. As of today, the official death toll has risen to 344, but is likely to continue to rise. Of those fatalities, 334 occurred during a single 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday, making it the ‘deadliest single day for tornadoes’ since March 18, 1925, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The National Weather Service estimates there were 288 tornadoes during the entire 48-hour outbreak, which lasted from 8:00 am, April 26th to 8:00 am, April 28th. Of the states affected, Alabama suffered the hardest hit of all, with tornados touching down in six different counties.

As many of you know, my daughter, Morgan, began college this past fall at Auburn University in Alabama. Praise God, that area of the state was spared the brunt of the storms. However, Tuscaloosa, the home of the University of Alabama - Auburn's arch rival - did not fare so well. It took a direct hit from a HUMONGOUS tornado, which the National Weather Service determined to be an EF5. This monster was approximately 1.5 miles wide and appears to have stayed on the ground for somewhere between 200 and 370 miles (from Newton County, Mississippi to Macon County, North Carolina)!! Reports from Tuscaloosa/Birmingham indicate that at least 65 people were killed in that area, with over 1000 injured in the Tuscaloosa area alone and another 600 still missing. Alabama's Emergency Management Personnel are reporting that, as of today, the official statewide death toll in Alabama currently sits at 250, but is expected to rise in the coming days.

UNBELIEVABLE
EF5 Tornado that hit University Mall in Tuscaloosa

Auburn University students have established a Facebook page to collect supplies and coordinate help for those devastated by the tornado in Tuscaloosa and other areas in Alabama. It is called Toomers For Tuscaloosa. Some of the biggest needs at this time are water, sports drinks, non-perishable food items, baby supplies (food, diapers, formula, bottles, clothes, etc.) sunscreen, bug spray, toiletry items, bedding, blankets, coolers, tarps, paper and plastic bags, flashlights, batteries, porta-potties, adult diapers, etc. If you are interested in helping, please check out the Facebook page or contact the Auburn students via email at toomersfortuscaloosa{at}gmail{dot}com.

In the meantime, I hope you will join my family and me in praying for ALL those affected by last week's deadly storms and, as we head into this next week, let's all remember to stop and count our many, many blessings.

{{HUGS}}