Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Editorial

As his home stood in pieces behind him, a man sorted through items that were once neatly put away—making the decision of what to keep and put in a trash bag or what to throw out with the rest of the pile. Despite this devastating circumstance, he was not alone as local volunteers and members of Collectivus Church worked together to help him and his neighbors clean up the remains of the storm. Accompanying the dark destruction littered about Calera was also the reminder of what truly matters: people.

After straight-line winds and a tornado tore through Calera on Saturday, March 15, those affected were greeted with the immediate response of emergency personnel and the neighborly support of surrounding communities.

The Calera Police Department provided shelter to a family that didn’t have anywhere else to go during the night of the storm after their home was destroyed. The city of Alabaster sent an engine company, ambulance and police officers to assist their neighbors in Calera. Meanwhile, Collectivus Church on Calera Main Street organized and gathered together church members and volunteers on Sunday morning to go out and help those affected with cleanup efforts.

By Sunday afternoon, although there were still pieces littered about, the areas hit by the storm were unrecognizable compared to the state they were in the previous night. And although many businesses and homes were affected, no lives were lost in Shelby County.

Now, a week removed from the event, municipalities are beginning to start planning for the future and are examining how they can better protect their residents in the event something similar happens to them.

Catastrophic events serve as the ultimate stress test for society, and we are glad to know that Shelby County is more than willing to step up to the plate and help one another.