In April, while Alabama was still under a “shelter-in-place” order, a series of storms violated the stay-at-home rule. On Easter Sunday, 26 tornadoes ravaged north Alabama. A week later, south Alabama was hit with eight tornadoes, and a particularly dangerous thunderstorm produced near-90-mph straight-line winds in a large section of central Alabama.

Countless trees came crashing down on homes, campers, cars and more. The widespread destruction was incredible — as was the fact that more people weren’t hurt.

Immediately, Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief chainsaw teams began cleaning up the massive debris. Cleanup/recovery teams and chaplains were deployed. Feeding units provided meals for workers and survivors. 

Volunteers with Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief, known as the Yellow Shirt Army, were serving beautifully, as they have been trained and equipped to do, but this time in a socially distant, COVID-pandemic atmosphere. It was a challenge, but not a deterrent. After Kris Rambo, Rockford’s town clerk, witnessed a team’s work on her property, she said, “I’ll never forget it. I have joked and I mean it, I think yellow has become my favorite color.”