One Year Later, Or Last Month

Today marks the one year anniversary of a devasting and widespread outbreak of severe weather across much of the south, resulting in catastrophic devastation and loss of life. At one time, I had begun to prepare a piece for this blog that would look back on that day, from the frantic effort to find a way home across a veritable war zone featuring numerous blocked roads cluttered with downed trees and power lines, to the race to my brother-in-law's house in a failed attempt to patch a roof before the next round of storms, to hiding for the better part of 8 hours in the basement of our home as the darkest of days turned into night. I would have recounted the 7 days without power, the discovery of community among our neighbors, the stories of blessing and heartache and marvel that were born of that experience.

Yet as I sit here, I find that my view of April 27 is clouded - and yet made more clear - by March 2nd. What I could only imagine then, I now know. In the past 8 weeks, I have met several people at the ballfield, at the school, and around town whose lives were changed by April 27. Each conversation, many with complete strangers, was made rich by the understanding and empathy that comes from a shared experience.

As we labor to move on from March 2nd, I am struck by the reality that recovery may take far longer than I expect. To this day, there are still families all around us still struggling to get life back on track after April 27. There are still those who shake in fear at the even the threat of bad weather. Even I have lost my taste for a "good thunderstorm" in recent weeks, and as one who enjoys the science and mystery of weather phenomena, that's saying something. Maybe it'll come back in time, but for now, peaceable weather would be preferred. The point is, I am learning from those who know, that "normal" is a long way off. But I will not lack for hope, and I will remain confident that a restoration is coming. Are we changed? Yes. But we are together, and that means everything.

In closing, I offer the following links below, for those of you who may wish to look back at April 27. God be with you.

My Posts:

The post I made just before 1 pm on April 27

The day the power came back on

When the Lights Came Back On

Other Look Backs:

Huntsville Utilities, TVA overcame long odds

A Year Ago Today - al.com

Local Meteorologists Look Back

Special Report from the National Weather Service