Severe Storms Bring Extensive Damage to North and East Alabama
Crews with the National Weather Service are assessing damage Tuesday morning after severe storms tore through the area. Jacksonville city officials in a Tuesday morning press conference confirmed there were no fatalities, but some buildings around Jacksonville State University have severe structural damage. There’s been looting, Jacksonville Assistant Police Chief Bill Wineman said, and officials are imposing a 7 pm curfew. The campus is off limits. Several roads are closed to allow Alabama Power crews and tree trimmers to work today.
Calhoun and Cullman counties had the heaviest damage from large hail and winds, which destroyed several homes and businesses. In all, 13 counties were affected by the storms, said Yasamie Richardson, spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. “I think everybody was shocked just to see the size of the hail that fell … the sheer volume and the size of it was something I don’t think any of us expected,” Richardson said.
There were reports of injuries, but none was life-threatening. Richardson attributes the lack of fatalities to residents heeding warnings to retreat to safe spaces.
Jacksonville State University was in one of the hardest-hit areas. JSU students are on spring break. The City of Jacksonville implemented a curfew Monday night so emergency workers could better respond to the storm. Crews with Alabama Power were working to restore electricity to more than 10,000 homes and businesses. Workers are cleaning up downed power lines and trees.
As of this writing, some parts of the JSU campus are still off limits.
Hwy 21 & 204 is now open. JSU, Gamecock Village & Reserve are off limits. Do not travel NE area if at all possible. There is much debris, downed power lines, and trees. First Responders and Alabama Power are working diligently in those areas.
— City of Jacksonville (@Jacksonville_AL) March 20, 2018
Gov. Kay Ivey in a statement Monday night said she was sending state resources to the areas hit by the storms. Richardson said several unaffected counties sent their emergency responders to help assess the damage.
Schools in Calhoun and Cullman counties are closed Tuesday.
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
