Gov. Kay Ivey visited Lee County, Alabama, Wednesday to survey the damage from Sunday’s tornadoes that killed 23 people.
“It seems like having one tornado right after the other in the same path is a little unusual,” Ivey said while looking over the sites of several homes from the top of a hill.
After circling the damage in a helicopter, Ivey walked along Lee Road 38 with county and state officials, often stopping to speak with officials and residents.
Debris lined the sides of the roads with piles of personal items found nearby homes that suffered damage.
“It’s devastating,” Ivey said. “I’m surprised just 23 were lost.”
The area Ivey visited took the full impact of the storm. Residents had a few minutes to take shelter before the first of the tornadoes hit, but because of the strength of the storm, a place underground was the only true safe place, officials said.
Ivey noted there aren’t any storm shelters while she walked along the road stopping along the way to visit with residents and volunteers sifting through the wreckage.
“Thank God we’ve got good, caring people in Alabama pitching in so strongly,” Ivey said.
Brooke Waler was searching through the smashed remains at the home of her step-father Marshall Lynn Grimes, 59, when Ivey came through the area. She and Ivey spoke briefly about Grimes’ funeral Thursday.
Waler also mentioned that her family is still searching for Grimes’ Christian Motorcycle Association jacket.
They found his CMA banner among the debris and unrolled it for Ivey to see.
“If we found that as intact as it is, I have a feeling we’ll be able to find his vest,” Waler said.
Ivey’s visit along a stretch of Lee Road 38 lasted about 20 to 30 minutes. She spoke directly with Waler and waved to other volunteers and residents as she walked along the road with EMA officials.
“It’s not just an analogy, their lives are in pieces,” said Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings. “It’s going to be very sensitive, and people who are volunteering need to be compassionate.”
President Donald Trump will visit Lee County on Friday.
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Elizabeth, senior in journalism and political science, is the community editor for The Plainsman
