Eoline, Pondville and West Blocton receive majority of damage
By Daniel L. Bamberg
The Friday morning of April 15 may have been a fairly normal beginning for citizens in Bibb County. By afternoon however, citizens of Eoline, Pondville, and West Blocton would be standing face to face with serious weather on the verge of crisis.
As storms crossed into Alabama at the Southwestern most corner from the Southeastern most area of Mississippi several areas across the state prepare for the inevitable damage which occurred in other states.
A tornado touched down in Tuscaloosa causing a lot of property damage and heading on a direct path to some of Bibb’s rural areas. Meanwhile more severe weather was coming out of Greensboro.
Once local Emergency Management authorities opened the sirens across the county people began to prepare. Hours before local schools were closed so that children could return to the safety of their homes, buses would not be en route in severe conditions, and weather shelters could be made of the schools for those in need. Bibb County’s 911 Office and several churches were also open for those who lived in more vulnerable structures.
Stories coming out of other areas were not good. Local news Station WBRC was able to catch a tornado live as it touched down in rural Tuscaloosa County. With several Bibb citizens working in that area many families took cover at home with only thoughts and prayers for their commuted loved ones.
An Eoline woman told the story of huddling in her home with her children, as a horrible noise seemed to get closer to them. She explained that as the storm got louder she and her children began singing, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” She stated that the louder the storm was, the louder they would sing. They were all safe once it passed by. Only minor property damage occurred to their yard.
Others in Eoline and Pondville while blessed to be alive were not lucky enough to experience only slight property damage. Fallen trees landed upon more than a handful of homes. This damage occurred specifically around the Pondville Road area and Little Hope area. Power lines were strewn upon the streets in many spots along with debris and hundreds of fallen trees.
A power line and a tree fell across Highway 82 in Eoline, which caused traffic to back up for those coming to and from Tuscaloosa.
EMA workers, county workers, city workers, fire departments, Sheriff’s Deputies, municipal and state police, Alabama Power workers and volunteers were in several areas of Bibb’s southern portion closing roads, clearing roads, replacing lines, accessing damage, checking on people, and doing whatever necessary. Already stretched really thin and spread out these workers were getting word that West Blocton has also been hit, and may have received the worst of the damage.
Truman-Aldridge Road was devastated with trees lying everywhere in the road, on top of parked vehicles and lying on top of trailers. Scottsville Road was hit heavy, and Scottsville Cemetery saw large trees plucked from the ground, crushing headstones, and cypress trees twisted and mangled.
Just before 6:00 p.m. Bibb County EMA Director, Wayne Hayes made a statement on the central Alabama television stations explaining that while there were closed roads, some structural damage, and people without power, there were no human casualties. Citizens were seeing blessings beyond the storm. Through all the bad news in Bibb County, there were continuous reports of citizens banding together to clear the roads and do all they could to make sure everyone was okay.
Friday’s historical blitzkrieg of tornadoes produced over 200 tornadoes across the southeast fatally wounding 40 people and injuring well over 100. This is unfortunately just the beginning of what has already been a very active tornado season, with more severe weather expected in Alabama and across the southeast later this week.
State EMA officials express that it is imperative for all families and persons to have a tornado safety plan for their home and places of work. For tornado safety tips please visit ema.alabama.gov
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