Before Dawn: April 27, 2011

Almost all of us can provide details about what we were doing when we learned of the tornado heading towards Tuscaloosa that afternoon, and everyone can recall their initial reactions after learning of the devastation that came as a result of the storm. This is a brief yet true story about the morning of April 27, 2011.

*alarm sounds*

"Man, I'm tired," I think to myself. I get up, drag myself to the bathroom to shower and get dressed before heading in to work. I move quietly, careful not to wake my newborn who'd just come home from the hospital a few weeks prior; but I can't ignore the sounds of rain and thunder. It kinda sounds like putting shoes in the dryer.

I tiptoe into my mom's room to leave my daughter with her. I've been staying with her since my daughter came home from the hospital, as she's also been recently released from the hospital after having a second hip replacement surgery. Our arrangement is a win-win. I help her out during the day and evening, and she keeps my baby while I work a few hours.

The rain is coming down harder than I can ever remember driving through. I can't see anything beyond my windshield. It eases up. Thank God. I can see the traffic light in front of me. Good! Blinding lightning strike! "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," I whisper while inching forward. It feels like the wind is about to push my car off the road. I decide to sit still until it feels safe to move. All at once, the rain and wind ease. I drive as fast as possible while maintaining safety and arrive at work. Just as I enter the building, the downpour begins again.

I have to check on Brother A. He always comes in early, and we're the only ones in the building. Before I can get to him, he's coming to me. "You know we're under a tornado warning, don't you?"

"No!"

"Yes, ma'am. I reckon we need to find a way to take cover."

"Yes, sir. The bathrooms downstairs will probably be best. They're towards the middle of the building and don't have glass doors."

Just then, we hear the sirens. My morning show is running, but even if it wasn't, there's nothing I can do about it at this point. We take cover, and after a few minutes of silence, we slowly emerge.

"Brother A, are you ok?"

Silence.

"Brother A?" More silence. "BROTHER A!"

He comes around the corner, apparently coming from upstairs. "Looks like the worst of it has passed."

"Man, you were supposed to have been in a safe place. What are you doing coming from upstairs? Don't do me like that!"

He laughs, as do I once I calm down. We go into our respective studios to work as normal. It wasn't until hours later and the sun comes up that we are made aware that a tornado had come through before dawn and destroyed homes in the Coaling area. We hope that this is the "alarming activity" meteorologists had been telling us about for close to a week.
Unfortunately, it isn't. It's only the beginning of a day that will forever be etched into the minds of Alabamians.