Hits Close to Home

Weathermen said all day the storms were going to be something. My parents and I were gathered around the tv in my basement when we first saw the monster on the news. At first we weren't sure if the footage of an enormous mile wide tornado we were seeing was in our town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama or somewhere else. Then it became very clear. We sat stunned as we watched the angry funnel begin its rampage straight through the heart of our city. We saw as it struck a transformer and the footage froze.

The path of the storm was dangerously close to our family business so the moment we were secure the storm had passed we were in the car headed to the scene to make sure our business wasn't in ruins. I grabbed my photo gear so I could shoot a few pictures for the Tuscaloosa News. It was the longest drive to town of my life. The relief we felt when we saw our warehouse still intact was palpable. That feeling was quickly replaced with horror as just a half mile down the road we saw what was left of Rosedale Court, a government housing project. Rosedale was near the start of the Tuscaloosa portion of what ended up being an 80 mile journey of destruction. I hopped out of my dad's truck to document the surreal sight and talk to a few people. I will never forget the scene I saw...the moment I realized that this devestation continued for miles and miles through not only my hometown, but towns across the state. I only spent about 20 minutes on the ground photographing what I saw because another storm was rumored to be on its way and people were quickly fleeing for safety. Here is what I saw that day.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Stephanie Hines, left, takes in the destruction at her mother's house in the Rosedale community after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A man runs for safety as word spreads that another storm is on its way after a tornado tore through Alabama Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A woman sits on the remains of her home in Rosedale after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Tiffany Price collects some of her clothes from her house in the Rosedale community after a tornado tore through Alabama Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A scene of destruction after a tornado tore through the Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A tree is downed on 35th Street after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Pearline G. Hinton, left, and son Kendrell Dwayne Hinton, 16, flee the remains of their home in Rosedale after hearing word that another storm was on its way after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- People walk around looking to salvage belongings from their homes in Rosedale after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- A car is marked with a red x to signal it has been checked for people after a tornado tore through the Rosedale community in Tuscaloosa Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Rosemarie Roberts is aided by Charles Redick, left, and Nathan Reese after a tornado destroyed her home in the Rosedale community Wednesday afternoon.


04-27-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- People aide a friend near the Rosedale Community after a tornado tore through Alabama Wednesday afternoon.

Sky Lanterns

After watching Disney's hit Tangled I wondered if the glowing sky lanterns featured were real. They seemed so magical and beautiful that I figured they were a fantasy imagined for the film. A few weeks ago a Tuscaloosa News assignment came my way that proved that these light as air heat propelled wonders are in fact a reality. The Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa hosted their 3rd annual Sky Lantern Festival for child abuse awareness and I felt almost as exhilarated as Rapunzel as I watched the firey paper globes take flight into the night.


04-25-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Mason Grace Ward, 4, gets ready to release a sky lantern during the 3rd annual Sky Lantern Festival held by the Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Monday at Sokol Park.


04-25-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Deb Mason and others release sky lanterns during the 3rd annual Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Sky Lantern Festival at Sokol Park.


04-25-11 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- Katie Pope and daughter Mary Collier Pope, 4, release a sky lantern in memory of a friend's baby who died during the 3rd annual Sky Lantern Festival held by the Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Monday at Sokol Park.