— Survivors of the deadliest tornado outbreak since the Great Depression struggled to begin rebuilding their lives in the wind-wrecked landscape Friday, enduring blackouts and waiting in long lines for gas as their remaining possessions lay hidden in the rubble. President Barack Obama came to devastated Alabama to console victims whose emergency services are so badly strained that at least one town was begging for body bags.
As Obama stepped off a plane at the airport in hard-hit Tuscaloosa, rescuers and survivors combed the remains of neighborhoods pulverized by Wednesday’s outbreak that killed at least 318 across seven states. In one of its first official assessments of the tornadoes’ strength, the National Weather Service gave the worst possible rating to one that raked Mississippi and said it was the strongest to hit the state since 1966.
With the confirmation of more deaths by state officials, Wednesday’s outbreak surpassed a deadly series of tornadoes in 1974 to become the deadliest day for twisters since 332 people died in March 1932. The storm eight decades ago was also in Alabama.
The president’s arrival drew a muted response from Tuscaloosa resident Derek Harris, who was pushing a grocery buggy down a street where virtually every home was heavily damaged. The 47-year-old and his wife hoped to use the cart to salvage a few belongings from his home.
“Hopefully he’ll give us some money to start over,” Harris said of Obama. “Is FEMA here? The only place I’m hearing anything is at the Red Cross center.”
Some were more upbeat about the president’s visit, including 21-year-old Turner Woods, who watched Obama’s motorcade pass on its way to tour damaged areas. “It’s just really special having the president come here,” she said. “It will bring more attention to this disaster and help get more help here.”
After witnessing the damage in storm-wracked neighborhoods, Obama promised help and remarked that he’s “never seen devastation like this.” Entire neighborhoods were obliterated in the city of more than 83,000 that’s home to the University of Alabama.
“When we’re confronted by the awesome power of nature and reminded that all we have is each other,” said the president after spending time talking to the state’s governor and Tuscaloosa’s mayor.
The storms destroyed the city’s emergency management center, so the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium was turned into a makeshift one. Though there wasn’t significant damage to campus, finals were canceled and commencement was postponed.
The situation was dire about 90 miles to the north in the demolished town of Hackleburg, Ala., where officials were keeping the dead in a refrigerated truck amid a body bag shortage. At least 27 were killed there, and the search for missing people continues.
The only grocery store, the fire and police departments and the school are destroyed. There’s no power, communications, water or other services. Fire Chief Steve Hood said flashlights for the town’s 1,500 residents are needed because he doesn’t want them to use candles that could start fires.
“We don’t have water to put out any fires,” he said.
About three hours to the west, parts of Rainsville were also flattened. At Rainsville Funeral Home, Lisa Chandler and her husband have been working 6 a.m. to midnight to arrange services and prepare bodies.
The work is tough because they know most of the victims. But the couple keeps at it — they have five visitations planned for Friday night.
“How am I handling it?” Lisa Chandler said. “I cry a little and I pray a lot.”
Just outside of town, residents picked through their scattered belongings on a road, with people in cars stopping to offer bread, water and crackers. An AM radio station transmitted offers of help. One store was giving away air mattresses. An Italian restaurant was serving free hot meals. A glass shop was offering to replace shattered windows for free.
See videos of the destruction after the tornadoes.
