Local Residents With Alabama Ties Reflect on Tornado, Ask for Support [Video]

Click on the following link to donate to relief efforts in Alabama.

When Mother Nature flexes her strong arm and shows her unstoppable power, the aftermath is often painful. Loss of possessions, homes, a sense of normalcy, and most importantly—lives—can leave those affected feeling afraid and hopeless.

Such was the case last week, April 27, when thunderstorms, severe winds and tornadoes ravaged Alabama, killing at least 300 people, injuring hundreds more and leaving millions without power. As Kyle Ebdon and Brandon Hallmark watched the news reports from their home in Shelton, more than 1100 miles away from the devastation, they knew they had to do something to help.

Hallmark hails from Douglas, Alabama, where he grew up his entire life. He moved to Shelton with Ebdon, a Shelton native who attended Auburn University in Alabama, to raise their newborn twins.

“It’s scary being up here because they don’t tell you the real extent of the tornadoes,” Hallmark said. “You get some information on the news, but that’s after the fact, and in the meantime you’re left wondering if everyone you know is okay and what’s really happening.”

Ebdon, wanting to be involved in relief efforts, took to the Internet to establish a fundraising site through the Auburn Family All In Relief Fund. Her personal team is called “Connecticut Contributes.” (Details on how to donate and a link to the site can be found at the end of this article).

“Everything raised goes to the American Red Cross of Lee County chapter. From there they’ll disperse it to the cities that need it the most. Auburn has already raised over $30,000,” Ebdon said.

Hallmark and Ebdon have spent the past week trying to get in contact with as many of their friends and family as possible. They have connections with residents in the cities of Coleman, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, which was hit hardest by the storm.

“For some places, the cell phone towers have just started working again, but in other areas they’re being told it could be another five or more days,” Hallmark said.

“I’m constantly checking online to see if my friends from school are safe and if rescue teams have found any survivors,” Ebdon added.

With yesterday’s breaking news of Osama bin Laden’s death, Ebdon fears the tragedy in Alabama has “gone under the radar.”

“The tornadoes tore up town by town and I don’t think people realize that,” she said. “For the amount of damage that happened there, it would be like all of Shelton was ripped to shreds.”

The couple also recounted stories they had heard from those they were able to get in contact with. “Stores and businesses were totally destroyed. People are having to drive thirty minutes or more just to get to a store to get food,” Hallmark said. “And to make it even more stressful, a lot of gas stations ran out of gas.”

Hallmark explained that natural disasters are particularly dangerous in Alabama because of construction style. “The majority of houses in the South don’t have a basement. They build a slab of concrete and then the house on top of it,” he said.

The couple is currently engaged and has been planning to move back to Alabama to raise their sons in a year or so. When asked if last week’s events would affect that plan, each had a different opinion.

“I’m not scared,” Hallmark said. “I’ve lived there my whole life and in 20-something years there’s never been a tornado that bad.”

“Well, I’m going to make sure our house is built with a basement and a storm cellar,” Ebdon said.

To donate to Alabama relief efforts, click on the following link to Ebdon’s “Connecticut Contributes” fundraiser. Click on "Make a Donation" in the upper left of the page and simply fill out the required information. Ebdon says “every dollar helps, so if you can spare a dollar at the least, it will be greatly appreciated!”