From the Office of Governor Robert Bentley
EAGLE CREEK – Governor Robert Bentley on Sunday surveyed storm damage from the air and on the ground, offering continued support to all affected communities and thanking first responders, emergency managers, and volunteers for their tireless work since severe weather moved through the state.
“I’m so thankful to see people coming out and helping each other,” Governor Bentley said. “This is about neighbors helping neighbors.”
The Governor spoke at a news conference outside Eagle Creek Baptist Church in Tallapoosa County. The church is serving as a command post for relief workers in the surrounding communities of Eagle Creek and Jacksons’ Gap. One person was killed, and two others were injured in the area after an EF-2 tornado touched down Friday night.
Governor Bentley and emergeny managers met with individual homeowners whose properties were destroyed. The Governor also toured a property where the homeowners had an underground storm shelter installed just one day before the storms.
“That’s why I think it’s so important that we work on individual safe rooms and community safe rooms,” Governor Bentley said. “We need them to be accessible to people so people can know where they are and get to them. We’re working on getting that now.”
Many additional communities across the state were impacted by severe weather throughout the day and night on Friday. Resources have been mobilized to assist with a variety of needs. Governor Bentley has been in close contact with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency making sure each area receives proper assistance.
“We dispatched regional coordinators from the Alabama EMA to all affected regions. We’ve had personnel on the ground making sure communities get the assistance they need,” said Alabama EMA Director Art Faulkner. “We will continue to assess the damage and make sure that survivors’ immediate needs are met.”
Governor Bentley also spoke of other states that were impacted by Friday’s severe weather, and he offered Alabama’s support.
“We need to be praying for people in Kentucky, Indiana, and other states,” Governor Bentley said. “We offer our assistance, and we will help in any way we can.”
