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GFWC ALABAMA GFWC First Vice President, Babs Condon, wrote to Cynthia Geis, GFWC Alabama President, about the weather related disaster in Alabama, asking what help they needed. Below is the letter from Cynthia Geis.
News from GFWC Alabama
Hi Babs,
It will certainly be fine to share my email. I heard an update on the radio this morning - 53 tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service, 236 tornado-related deaths, 3,000+ homes lost. Almost 60,000 individual and households are registered for assistance. And, "strong storms" are predicted for tomorrow afternoon as another cold front moves into the state.
There are so many needs across the affected areas and we appreciate the care and concern of our Federation sisters. Our GFWC Alabama budget has a restricted line for "Disaster Relief." Any financial donations will go into this fund and be disbursed per the donor's request.
Regards, Cynthia
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News from GFWC Alabama May 05, 2011 11:10 PM
Dear Babs,
Thank you for your note. The past week has been very stressful for many of us. The weather warning sirens woke us early last Wednesday morning with the first of 20+ tornados that would cross our state. Although most of the national media has focused on Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, we also suffered much destruction and loss of life in Northern Alabama. To my knowledge, none of our clubwomen were directly involved on the 27th, although many have had some storm damage. The son of one of our members in the Birmingham area lost his home.
It has been difficult to ascertain the full extent of the damage – more than 1,000,000 central and north Alabama homes lost power late last Wednesday afternoon and it is still being gradually restored. In the interim, telephone service (land-line and cellular) and internet service has been very limited. I am also aware that two weeks ago, one of our members (Gloria Lee of GFWC PINES) lost her home when a tornado struck Washington County, Alabama.
Our 116th Annual State Convention was this past weekend in Auburn. Gregg and I had planned to drive to Auburn mid-day on the 27th. Of course, Wednesday was filled with lots of “last minute” activities and we were not ready to leave until late afternoon. The weather was so threatening that we decided to delay our departure until Thursday morning. This decision – most likely – kept us out of the path of the tornado that struck Tuscaloosa and Birmingham! We arrived in Auburn on Thursday in time to check into our room and for me to take a quick shower prior to the Executive Committee Luncheon. (I’m sure they were grateful although most of them had also been without power at some time during the past 12 hours.) There were several members who were not able to attend because they were needed at home because of the storms but – even with heavy hearts – we had good attendance and a great convention.
On the drive home, Laurie O’Kelly, president, GFWC SC, called and told me of the generous $1,000 donation from the SC clubwomen at their convention. I was so glad that Gregg was driving as I was crying too hard to see! Ellen Weber, president, GFWC-WI, has emailed with a request to help. Today, I received an email from Teddy Hulse, GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs, apprising me that they had sent $2,000 to help our members. GFWC Alabama certainly is “feeling the love” from our Federation family!
Gregg and I arrived home at curfew on Sunday night and emptied the contents of our refrigerator and freezer. The contents were a total loss but we feel so fortunate that this was all that we lost. Power was restored to our neighborhood on Monday (after 114 hours). However, there are still a number of businesses that have been closed since the 27th because power has not been fully restored. Gregg and I were fortunate to have been in a pay status but there are so many who are not.
We are slowly returning to what is now being called “the new normal.” There are so many needs – immediate and long-term. I am working with our district and club leadership in the affected areas to see how our efforts may be best used. I will keep you apprised of our plans.
We very much appreciate the thoughts and prayers of our Federation family.
Yours in Federation Service, Cynthia |