Severe weather possible in Alabama on Thursday
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday warned Alabamians that there is a strong possibility of severe weather today, including tornados. “Alabamians, make sure you remain weather aware throughout the day,” Gov. Ivey said on Twitter. “Rough weather is expected to occur across the state beginning midday and continuing through Friday’s early morning hours. Please take all precautions and stay safe.” Ivey quoted a Tweet from the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. “SEVERE STORMS REMAIN LIKELY TODAY THRU TONIGHT,” NWS Birmingham wrote on Twitter. “Trends continue to indicate that severe storms will develop with the potential for tornadoes, damaging winds to 70mph, and hail up to the size of golf balls. Storm development may begin as early as noon today in the west.” NWS Birmingham wrote this morning: “*The window for strong to severe thunderstorms will open up around 12 noon for the far western of the state, with the risk spreading eastward during the afternoon and evening hours. The event will wind down a little after midnight for southeast Alabama.” “Thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon and tonight will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. The higher tornado probabilities are across much of West and Central Alabama, where SPC has defined a hatched area, meaning a strong tornado is possible (EF-2 or higher). This area includes Muscle Shoals, Huntsville, Cullman, Fayette, Jasper, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Selma, and Thomasville.” Many schools are letting out early this afternoon so children can be in their homes before the severe weather risk hits. Alabamians often face severe weather – particularly thunderstorms and tornados. In the last 50 years, Alabama has averaged 8.4 tornados per year. The record year for the number of tornados in that period was 2022, with 37. The previous record was 2011 with 26. More Alabamians have been killed by tornados since 1950 than in any other state. On average, 14 people die from tornado activity each year in Alabama. Nine persons were killed in rural Autauga County last month due to tornadic activity on January 12. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Department of Public Health warns of hypothermia risk
Thursday night, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are forecast to be cold – very cold – the kind of cold that Alabama very rarely ever experiences. On Tuesday, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) warned the public that there is a real risk of hypothermia if you are exposed to that cold. “Staying warm, keeping well informed, and taking extra precautions is extremely important during times of extremely cold weather, such as the coming days when below-freezing temperatures are predicted,” ADPH said. “Everyone should remember to lower risks of cold-weather health problems by dressing in multiple layers to help retain body heat, limit time outdoors, and remove wet clothing immediately.” On Wednesday the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Birmingham issued a wind chill warning for Thursday and Friday. “Extreme cold product UPDATES from overnight: A Wind Chill WARNING is now in effect Thursday night into Friday morning for northern counties,” NWS Birmingham wrote on Facebook. “Wind chills (feels like temps) are expected to be -10° or less in these areas. A Wind Chill Watch remains for areas further south.” “To put this cold wave into perspective, our office (BMX) hasn’t issued a Wind Chill Warning that we can find at least since 2006 to 2007,” NWS Birmingham wrote on Twitter. “Wind chills are expected to be near zero as far south as Montgomery & Auburn Thursday night and into Friday morning. We can’t stress enough how dangerous these conditions will be if you’re outside for a prolonged period of time. We’re talking frostbite and hypothermia becoming a concern for folks who have prolonged exposure or without adequate warmth in those conditions.” “When exposed to cold, our bodies begin to lose heat faster than it can be produced,” ADPH continued. “This results in abnormally low body temperature called hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees F, just a few degrees less than the normal body temperature.” ADPH warns that “hypothermia makes people unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know when it is occurring and then will not be able to do anything about it. According to preliminary data from the ADPH Center for Health Statistics, there have already been 12 deaths in Alabama residents due to hypothermia this year. Ten Alabamians died from hypothermia in 2021, eight in 2020, nine in 2019, and thirteen in 2018. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), victims of hypothermia are often: · Older adults with inadequate food, clothing, or heating · Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms · People who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc. · People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs. ADPH explained that as the body ages, the ability to maintain a constant internal temperature decreases. Hypothermia risk is even greater when an older person has a chronic condition that affects the circulatory or neurologic systems, or the thyroid. When the core temperature falls, bodily functions shut down. To provide protection, older adults living quarters should be heated to at least 65 degrees F, they should wear suitable clothing, have plenty of warm blankets available, and eat nutritionally balanced food. In addition to advanced age, common risk factors for hypothermia are substance abuse and mental impairment. Certain commonly used drugs such as tranquilizers may contribute to the onset of hypothermia. Furthermore, many deaths from hypothermia are complicated by alcohol consumption, which can lead to dehydration and impaired judgment. The CDC lists the following signs and symptoms of hypothermia: For adults, the symptoms of hypothermia are shivering, exhaustion, feeling very tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness. For babies, the symptoms of hypothermia are very low energy with bright red and cold skin. Hypothermia is a medical emergency, and immediate medical attention is needed if a person’s temperature falls below 95 degrees Farenheit. The CDC advises to get medical attention and try to warm the person up by getting the person into a warm room or shelter. Additionally, remove any wet clothing the person is wearing, warm the center of the person’s body—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. Skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets can also be used. Warm drinks can help increase body temperature, but do not give alcoholic drinks. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrap their body, including their head and neck, in a warm blanket. Be sure to get the person proper medical attention as soon as possible. A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the person gently, and get emergency assistance immediately. Perform CPR, even if the person appears dead. CPR should continue until the person responds or medical aid becomes available. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully resuscitated. The CDC website has hypothermia prevention information available. NWS Birmingham wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning, “It’s now or never, folks. You have roughly 36 hrs to prepare for the dangerous cold, which will hit us like a ton of bricks tomorrow night. We can’t stress enough the potential impacts of this arctic surge. Lives could be in danger. PLEASE ensure you, family, friends, neighbors & pets are prepared!” To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Emails show fallout from Donald Trump’s claims about Hurricane Dorian hitting Alabama
Donald Trump claimed Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama. The National Weather Service in Birmingham disagreed.
Kay Ivey issues State of Emergency ahead of winter weather
In anticipation of the severe winter weather the National Weather Service (NWS) has been forecasting, Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a State of Emergency. NWS has already issued Winter Weather Advisory for a large portion of Alabama in anticipation of snow, sleet and freezing rain in and near the areas under the advisory. “All Alabamians should take time to be prepared for the potential of winter weather. I have directed essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days,” Ivey said. “As with any severe weather event, being prepared is of utmost importance. Everyone should take the necessary precautions now and stay informed of the latest weather forecasts for their area. This State of Emergency will ensure that all available state resources are ready if and when they are needed.” In anticipation of the winter weather, Ivey has allocated the following resources to be in place starting at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning: Alabama Emergency Management Agency will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Clanton The Alabama National Guard will activate soldiers to assist with mission support teams and command staff. “There are enough uncertainties in the forecast right now that the potential exists that this winter storm could be debilitating to the state for a couple of days due to icy conditions,” Ivey added. “We are strongly encouraging people to closely monitor this forecast because each portion of the state will face icy conditions at different times. It also important to factor in your commute time to ensure you are off the roads before the first flakes start falling from the sky. In addition to icy road conditions, another factor the state is dealing with is the massive flu outbreak. Now is a good time for people to plan ahead and remain weather aware.” By declaring a State of Emergency, Ivey is directing the appropriate state agencies to exercise their statutory authority to assist the communities and entities affected by the winter storm. Motorists are encouraged to use extreme caution while driving, check road conditions before departing, allow for increased travel times, and adjust arrival and departure times accordingly. Officials also urge motorists to limit travel to emergency situations only during the overnight hours of Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, as that is expected to be an especially cold and therefore dangerous period of time. For real-time road conditions, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is encouraging people to visit https://algotraffic.com. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) is reminding Alabamians that one of the most important preparedness steps that can taken is to put together an emergency preparedness kit with a three-day supply of food, water and other critical supplies. In addition, putting together a preparedness kit for vehicles that includes a car charger, ice scraper, jumper cables and blankets. To be prepared for winter weather, the AEMA urges resident to follow the following safety guidelines: Stay indoors during the storm. Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule and your route; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts. Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. Use caution, take breaks, push the snow instead of lifting it when possible, and lift lighter loads. Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. If you must go outside, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss. Ivey’s State of Emergency is effective at 6:00 p.m. Monday for all Alabama counties.
Gov. Kay Ivey declares state of emergency ahead of severe weather
Governor Kay Ivey has issued a statewide state of emergency in anticipation of severe weather arriving in Alabama. ABC 33/40 reports the National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting heavy rain and the possibility of significant flash flooding from Tuesday through Thursday, especially for those closer to the coast. The state of emergency is effective beginning 10 a.m. Tuesday. ABC 33/40 offers a live view of Gulf Shores: Gov. Ivey released the following statement regarding the state of emergency: Hurricane season is underway and that means the potential for increased tropical activity along the Gulf Coast. To ensure the state of Alabama is prepared, I have issued a State of Emergency effective today. This State of Emergency will guarantee state resources are on standby and are ready to assist impacted communities if necessary. The State Emergency Operations Center in Clanton has been activated to level three, which allows AEMA staff to monitor the impact of the severe weather. In addition, the National Guard is also being activated in preparation for the potential impact.
Flood warnings continue after stormy weekend
Flood warnings continue after a stormy weekend that included a tornado in north Alabama. The National Weather Service says warnings were issued for the Tennessee River west of Florence and south of Huntsville. Forecasters say minor flooding is possible through Saturday as the river rises in northwestern Alabama. The weather service says lowland flooding also is likely south of Huntsville until Friday afternoon in the Whitesburg area near Huntsville. The flooding potential follows storms that included a small tornado in Cullman County on Saturday night. The weather service says an EF-1 twister with winds up to 100 mph left a path of damage more than 4 miles long and 200 yards wide in the Jones Chapel community. A house and several farm buildings were damage, but no injuries were reported. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Gov. Robert Bentley declares state of emergency ahead of winter storm
Gov. Robert Bentley issued a state of emergency effective 7:00 a.m Friday in anticipation of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the state. Bentley made the announcement Thursday evening following a Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Watch for several Alabama counties issued by the National Weather Service. “I am encouraging all Alabama residents to be prepared for the potential of significant winter weather and I have directed my essential state agencies to do the same,” Bentley said in a new release. “With any severe weather event there is always a measure of uncertainty; however, it is important for everyone to take the necessary precautions and stay informed of the latest weather predictions in your area. I have issued a State of Emergency to ensure all available state resources are ready to be deployed if and when it is deemed necessary.” Bentley has directed the following resources to be in place starting at 8:00 a.m. Friday morning. These orders will remain in place until the threat of severe weather diminishes. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Clanton to level three. Emergency Management Divisions C, D, F and G will be activated to help coordinate local response efforts. The Alabama National Guard will activate 300 soldiers to assist with mission support teams and command staff at the Joint Force Headquarters in Montgomery. “In Alabama, winter weather is hard to predict, three or four degrees can be the difference between cold rain, sleet, snow or ice,” explained Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner. “I cannot stress enough the need for people to check their winter weather emergency supply kit, have a plan of action if conditions diminish as well as having a reliable method to receive the latest weather updates.” Real-time road conditions updated by the Alabama Department of Transportation may be found here.
Alabama cities break records for Christmas Day temperatures
Forecasters say that several Alabama cities set record high temperatures on Christmas Day. Al.com reports that one of the state’s warmest readings was in Montgomery, where it was 82 degrees on Sunday, breaking the record of 81 from 1987. Birmingham hit 78 degrees Christmas Day, breaking the previous record of 77 set last year. Tuscaloosa tied its record high for the date of 80 degrees. The National Weather Service reports that Mobile’s high of 80 degrees on Christmas Day broke the record of 79, which was set in 2015. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Severe drought continues across Alabama, no end in sight
While some areas of Alabama saw a sprinkling of rain this past week, severe drought continues to torment the vast majority of the state. With well over a month without rain, coupled with record-breaking heat, federal statistics released this week show nearly 90 percent of the state is now in a severe drought, and 65 percent of the state is in an extreme or exceptional drought. Even as seasonal cold fronts begin to arrive, there appears to be no relief in sight. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has predicted warm and near-record dry conditions to continue in Alabama, and across the Southeast, throughout the fall and winter lasting through February. Experts say at least a solid week of rain is needed for the state to “break even” and move past the drought.
As Democratic convention nears, excessive heat settles in
As thousands of delegates arrive in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention, it’s not just politics they have to contend with — it’s also the hot and sticky weather. The heat wave that descended on the city is expected show no mercy on Sunday with temperatures around 96 degrees. It could peak on Monday, the convention’s first day, with temperatures possibly hitting 100 degrees, said Mitchell Gaines, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Many parts of the United States are experiencing higher than normal temperatures — like most of the Midwest — but the Philadelphia area is slated to be the hardest hit in the Northeast. Other parts of the region, including New York City, are in heat advisories. And the higher temperatures have brought powerful thunderstorms to some New England states, rain knocking out power to tens of thousands of residents. In Arizona, where temperatures hit 112 on Friday, a 12-year-old boy died after becoming ill after a hike. Along with the considerable amount of humidity, the heat index in the Philadelphia area could be pushed as high as 108 on Monday, Gaines said. Highs in the mid- to upper-90s are expected each day through Wednesday. “The multiple days of excessive heat will greatly affect those who are attending outdoor activities, especially events with large groups of people that are gathering in the direct sun,” the weather service said. Officials warned that in urbanized areas such as Center City Philadelphia, even nighttime temperatures may not drop below 80, especially Monday night. There also is the possibility of thunderstorms, such as the brief one which lashed Philadelphia during the late afternoon and evening on Saturday To protect thousands of demonstrators expected during the July 25 to July 28 DNC, Philadelphia officials said two medic tents and two “misting” tents would be set up and water would be distributed. Medics also would be assigned to take part in marches. Workers preparing for the convention and others in downtown Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon were trying to keep cool. Will Adams, 69, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, stood next to a gigantic air conditioner under tents being erected outside the Comcast Center for a DNC event. He and the crew were putting up speakers and television screens as security fences were going up outside. He couldn’t help but think wistfully about the mild weather during similar preparations for the papal visit last September. “That was good weather then,” he said. Chris O’Brien, 36, of Flourtown, Pennsylvania, stood by a spray park — a public water play site — rocking his 2-month-old, Maeve, who was sleeping under the shade of a towel. He was waiting for the rest of his family while he watched former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter a few yards away, in a suit, shooting a CNN panel broadcast. O’Brien said he and his family planned to spend a lot of time in air conditioning for the next few days. “Libraries, the mall … and we were thinking about going to the Please Touch Museum or the Franklin Institute. Whatever there is to do inside, we’re doing it,” he said. Avere Scurry, 21, sitting behind the cash register at a pop-up beer garden across near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its famed “Rocky” steps, said staff members were taking precautions in the heat. “It’s not easy, but we have umbrellas so that helps. We have water. There’s a trailer over there that’s air conditioned … so every couple of minutes we’ll rotate and we’ll sit in the air,” Scurry said. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Daniel Sutter: I prefer studying tornadoes at a distance
I have conducted research on tornadoes for fifteen years. As an economist, I do not study the storms themselves, but rather the impacts of tornadoes on society. I mainly search for patterns in casualties or damages, which can be done safely away from the tornadoes. I have done some field research, and never wish for the opportunity to do field work in my neighborhood. Last week’s tornado in Troy occurred without warning, meaning that the National Weather Service (NWS) did not issue a warning until after touch down. Is it still possible today for tornadoes to occur without warning? Yes, and nationally about 30 percent of tornadoes are unwarned. NWS forecasters face significant challenges in issuing warnings, which we must recognize to help limit tornado impacts. Tornadoes form out of thunderstorms. If we think of thunderstorms as parents of tornadoes, several types of parents exist. Parent types interact with the technology and tools available to NWS forecasters. Last week’s tornado was a spin up that occurs in the bottom portion of the parent thunderstorm, perhaps the lowest 10,000 feet; thunderstorm clouds can rise to 40,000 feet or higher. In classic tornado conditions, rotation occurs much higher up in the thunderstorm. Doppler weather radars cannot see the lowest part of thunderstorms because of the curvature of the Earth. The phrase “flying under the radar” refers to a plane flying low to avoid detection by radar. Spin up tornadoes fly below the radar too. Many thunderstorms will look to forecasters just like last Thursday’s storm. Warning for every such thunderstorm would likely produce a dozen or more false alarms for every tornado. To appreciate why, summer thunderstorms occur almost daily in Alabama, while summer tornadoes are quite rare. Last week’s tornado was the first in Pike County not associated with a tropical system since 1950. The NWS could prevent unwarned tornadoes by warning for every thunderstorm. Yet this would raise the false alarm ratio dramatically, and already three out of every four tornado warnings are false alarms. My research has documented the cost of false alarms. People and businesses respond to tornado warnings. Walmart, for instance, monitors severe weather and orders stores into lockdown during warnings. Tornado warnings disrupt our lives – shopping, dining, television, homework – quite extensively. My research with Somer Erickson found that over 200 million person hours were spent under warnings nationally each year. The value of time under warnings exceeded other types of tornado impacts, including the property damage or value of deaths or injuries. Increasing false alarms would also prove deadly. We are all remember the story of the boy who cried wolf too often, and so too many false alarms will lead people to ignore warnings. Kevin Simmons and I found in a study of twenty years of tornadoes and warnings that a higher false alarm ratio increases the lethality of tornadoes. Furthermore, Kevin and I showed that aggressively warning to prevent unwarned tornadoes would result in more deaths through false alarms than saved through warnings. Last week’s tornado was rated EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, and almost all spin up tornadoes are weak (rated EF-0 or EF-1). Over 75% of all U.S. tornadoes are weak, and yet account for just 5% of fatalities, 9% of injuries, and 10% of property damage. Issuing lots of warnings for potential weak tornadoes may lead people to ignore a warning for a far more dangerous tornado. And the precautions we should take during thunderstorms offer pretty effective protection against unwarned weak tornadoes: stay inside and away from windows. Falling trees represent a danger in thunderstorms and weak tornadoes, so stay out of rooms with big trees outside. It would be nice if the NWS could warn for all tornadoes and never issue a false alarm. But Mother Nature does not allow this. Ignoring tradeoffs leads us to make bad decisions, a familiar theme in this column. The existence of this tornado warning tradeoff is just one of the many ways economists contribute to discussions of severe weather. Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision.
Angi Stalnaker: Remembering April 27
Every Alabamian has their own story of April 27, 2011, the day of the largest natural disaster in the state’s history when more than 230 Alabamians lost their lives. On that day towns like Hackleburg, Pratt City, and Phil Campbell moved became communities forced to unite after facing unimaginable destruction. Fifty years from now, people will still recount how more than 60 monster tornadoes tore across the land, destroyed homes and schools, and permanently changed the topography of our future. I remember the events of that and subsequent days from the perspective of a staffer for Gov. Robert Bentley. I saw the tragic events as they unfolded and the recovery as a first-hand witness to leadership in the wake of tragedy. Speaking directly to the people By midafternoon that day, countless tornadoes had wreaked havoc on thousands of square miles of the state. The EMA director kept Governor Bentley constantly updated. I saw pictures and video of the devastation from my computer screen in the chief of staff’s suite. The National Guard and every governmental agency and available person were trying to help tornado victims. I was with several other staff members in the governor’s office when he told us he wanted to speak directly to the people of Alabama. A short time later, we crowded into studio at the bottom of Dexter Avenue as the newly inaugurated governor began his address. During the live broadcast, Bentley spoke in a calm authoritative tone. He gave information for those who needed help, numbers to call and other pertinent information. But most of all, he projected the reassuring knowledge that he cared, was in charge, and that help was on the way. Just before that broadcast, Tuscaloosa had been hit by a monster twister. We didn’t know the extent of the damage or how many lives had been lost, but we knew it was bad, really bad. The tornado had just hit head on the governor’s home city, home to three of his sons and six of his grandchildren, and home to his church and to his friends . Yet Governor Bentley delivered his address in a calm and reassuring way. It must have taken great strength to deliver that address, a strength of leadership I don’t know that I’ll ever possess to put the personal aside and do what was best for the state. In that moment, though, and for months afterward, that’s is exactly what he did. 100 days You don’t go into government inherently knowing everything you need to know. There are always things to learn from names and office locations to procedures and policies. This administration was no different and because April 27, 2011, was only the 100th day of the Bentley administration, we were all still very new to the executive branch. We had just made it through inauguration and into our first legislative session. Now we faced the largest natural disaster in Alabama’s history. Nothing prepared us for that, but that may have been an advantage because not knowing how things had been done in the past allowed us to follow the governor’s lead and do what he thought best. That allowed the recovery to go much smoother than anyone anticipated. A little common sense goes a long way. Where do we go? What do we do? When Bentley asked me to be his campaign manager for the 2010 gubernatorial election it was the greatest honor of my life. One opportunity it afforded me was the chance to meet the University of Alabama students who were campaign volunteers and interns. The Bentley Gubernatorial Election Headquarters was at the corner of 15th Street and McFarland just a few blocks from campus so we were always a favorite hangout for politically interested college students. Shortly after the tornado hit Tuscaloosa, many of us who had transitioned to government from the campaign tried to contact the students we had gotten to know. Telephone lines were down, cell phone towers were destroyed, and calling into Tuscaloosa was extremely difficult. For hours, I heard nothing from anyone I tried to reach. At about 8 p.m. my phone rang and the voice on the other end said, “Miss Angi, where do we go? What do we do?” It was a young man from Chicago who had worked feverishly on the campaign. We affectionately referred to him as “Research Joe.” I could tell he was scared and worried. He was with a group of friends but their apartments were mostly destroyed or heavily damaged. They were OK, though, and he asked what to do next. I told him to make it to the campus rec center where there would be people to help. I often wonder what that sweet kid from Chicago thought when he emerged from his tornado-safe place to see what happened around him. I often wonder whether he questioned his decision to come to Tuscaloosa. He graduated with honors and is now in a Northern law school. I’m fairly confident that he will be president one day. As the night progressed, I heard from almost every one of those campaign volunteers who had remained in Tuscaloosa. They were all shaken and scared but alive and uninjured. A tremendous relief, it gave us all a little hope. “Make sure they are fed” As the storms subsided in the evening, the focus turned to recovery. About six of us were with Governor Bentley in his office when he ended a phone call with Art Falkner and Jeff Byard from the EMA Headquarters in Clanton. By that point, the EMA bunker had filled with people well-trained in disaster response. They were going to be in that Chilton County bunker a very long time. Bentley sat silent for a few minutes, then he stood to take out his wallet. He handed me money, and asked me to go buy food and take it to Clanton. I will never forget his words: “We have to make sure they are fed.” I did as instructed
