I never imagined that so many people would just show up and be willing to give their time to just help us out,” Charles said.

PRATT CITY, Ala. – For 20 minutes, Charles was living his worst nightmare.

At 6 p.m. on April 27, he called his wife with an urgent warning.

“You need to get the kids downstairs,” he said. “You need to get down there right now because the storm is coming.”

But the storm was already there. No sooner had he given the warning did Charles hear a terrifying reply.

“I heard the glass in the back den start to break. Everybody started yelling…screaming…and then the phone died,” he recalled as he choked back the tears.

“For the next 20 minutes, I didn’t know what happened to anyone. It’s like your worst nightmare. I thought they were gone.”

Fortunately, the devastating string of tornadoes that swept through Alabama and were responsible for more than 300 deaths had spared his wife and four children.

Work crews help residents clean up and remove debris.

His home, however, was severely damaged. Downed trees had a damaged his roof and siding, his bedroom ceiling had caved in, windows were blown out, and heavy rains had left significant water damage.

But all that, Charles pointed out, was replaceable. His family was not. And that’s something Charles knows all too well.

On April 4, 1977, when Charles was just five years old, an F5 tornado passed through this same area, claiming the lives of 22 people. One of those victims was his mother.

“Whenever it rains, storms really bad, I always get a little nervous about it – just from that memory,” Charles said as he wiped tears from his eyes.

Despite the painful memories, Charles remains optimistic as he and his neighbors work to pick up the pieces. And they’re getting some help from Operation Blessing—who arrived with a crew of staff and volunteers and a convoy of construction equipment, including a 20-ton crane, loader, and dump truck to help residents with debris and cleanup.

“A lot of people came out to help out. I never imagined that so many people would just show up, and be willing to give their time to just help us out. Guys like you…you really are a blessing to us,” Charles said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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