We didn’t have any damage here in Prattville, Alabama…
…but according to news reports, hundreds of people were injured and killed, and many people lost their homes and businesses yesterday.
Our hearts and prayers go out to all the people affected by the devastating tornadoes around the South, and we’ll be joining the relief effort wherever and however we can. (If you or someone you know needs help cleaning up, please let us know and we’ll be there!)
Thanks so much to everyone who sent emails to check on us. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and hope that you and yours are safe today too.
Much love,
Kevin & Layla
PS- Also just wanted to mention that you can help the Red Cross provide food, shelter, relief supplies and emotional support to the thousands of people affected by the storms by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. (The $10 donation will be added to your next cell phone bill.)
oh my goodness… that map of tornados is so overwhelming… so glad you guys are okay!!
I have been wondering about you all day!!! Stay safe and thanks for letting us know….I know I was not the only one worried about The Lettered Cottage Couple!!! My prayers and sympathy go out to those affected!
We have been so blessed. As far as we can tell, all family and friends in North Alabama are fine – just no electricity, which limits communication. Thank goodness for cell phones!
I have read your blog for a long time but I am a quiet one. I immediately thought of you two when I saw the news and logged on to the Cottage…I am so glad you are okay. Just such a horrible thing for all of those poor people. Prayers certainly being said.
My cousin lives in Prattville. Her & hubby took refuge in a closet with their phones and laptop. Her fear was evident in her texts and posts. Her family prayed hard (most of us live in Michigan) and waited for any message from them. It was such a relief when she said the storms passed and they were safe. This morning watching all of the devastation on TV took my breath away. And then I thought: WOW! Ti & Trav had both cell service & WIFI during all of that. So thankful you all are safe & my sympathies to the families not so lucky.
37 years ago, 1974, a tornado struck my community and destroyed much of our city. We have rebuilt but it will never be the same. My thoughts are with all that have been effected by these terrible tornadoes
Jo, I too lived through the April 4, 1974 tornado but I’m from Alabama. That is something you never forget. Let’s say I have taught my children to have a very healthy respect for weather warnings! Blessings to you!
Jan@southernjunkin’
I am so glad that you both are okay and safe…so sad what happened to all those people…my heart goes out to all the people affected by the devastating tornadoes around the South.
Thought I would check in with you guys! I am up in Nashville and we were under the tornado threats all day! My prayers go out to everyone affected!
I’m so glad to hear you’re ok. My thoughts and prayers are with all affected and their loved ones.
So glad you guys are okay! We’re in north Alabama, about an hour away from Birmingham. Luckily we didn’t have any damage to our place, but several people we know did. My heart is still heavy for all those who lost love ones. Such a sad day for this beautiful state.
I am so glad that you are okay. The map is unreal. My brother lives in Huntsville. He is in Ohio right now but his wife is home alone and in the dark. I could hardly find Huntsville on your map, when I did I was shocked.
Wow, how awful.
My heart was just breaking as I was watching the news today, Layla. Those people have been on my mind all day long. I’m so glad that you guys are ok. I am sending up prayers for everyone down South. ♥
xoxo laurie
So glad you folks are fine. The loss of life is so sad. My prayers go out to all the folks affected.
xo,
cristin
So glad that you are ok. My best friend lives in Prattville. What a small world. I am praying for all those affected in South.
Thank you all so much for checking in on us. Our prayers are with everyone affected.
Glad to hear you guus are okay! Everything on the news looked so scary, sending prayers to everyone affected.
I still can’t believe all the damage. So very very sad! Glad to hear that you are ok.
Hugs
Becky
We live in Horn Lake, MS just south of Memphis. The three waves of storms and tornadoes that rolled through our area were horrific. I only slept an hour that night and was fearful for the lives of my babies.
How incredibly blessed am I that my family was spared where so many other lives were lost.
There but for the grace of God go I.
Hi Layla. I was just in Huntsville, AL. I left just yesterday to attend my grandfather’s funeral. My two co-workers got stuck there at a hotel with no power. It is heartbreaking to think of the actual people who lost their lives, loved ones, homes or all three! It’s so tragic. I’m glad you’re both okay.
Glad you and yours are safe. Praying for those affected
Glad you are safe. My daughter and son-in-law live in Hoover, which is covered over with a tornado symbol on that map. Thankfully, they are fine. My prayers to those who have lost their homes and/or their family members.
We were complaining about the unusually heavy rains at work today here in Ontario, Canada (what a nuisance, where’s the sun?!.) Then I got home and heard about the devestation. Do I ever feel bad about the complaining now, when so many lost loved ones, homes etc. A few neighbours of ours lost fences in the wind, but not tornadoes. Not loss of life. Loss of livelihood or material things. It really puts things in perspective. I am praying for those affected and will be donating to the Red Cross.
So happy to hear you are both safe and well. My heart goes out to all the people affected in the southern states. Thanks for the Red Cross info. It was so thoughtful of you.
XO,
Jane
We have family in Atlanta and surrounding area …. we are so thankful they are ok. The devastation around them is unreal. Glad you are safe and sound.
Glad you’re both safe..I was worrying about you too. What a tragedy for so many people.
I’ll be sending a donation through the Salvation Army. Wish I could be there to help.
God bless.
I am so glad you are OK. I too have been thinking about you throughout the day as I have watched the news reports. Thank you for the information on making donations to the Red Cross. Stay safe.
So happy to hear everyone one is safe at your cottage. My brother in law is a student at Alabama. God was watching over he and his roomates as they hid in the bathroom. Trees fell on all sides of their home, but none actually on the home. His truck was crushed by two trees-but cars can be replaced. Others were not so fortunate-10 people on his street were killed.
im heartbroken.
such devastation and loss.
already have these folks in my heart.
god bless everyone.
Birmingham is awful. The devasatation is overwhelming. Many major roads are still not drivable because of trees and down power lines. We were lucky as our home was untouched, but two of my friends lost their homes.
And Tuscaloosa is even worse then Birmingham. I have never seen distruction this bad from tornadoes. It is so sad.
I am glad you guys are OK!
My thoughts a prayers are with everyone affected by this, it’s so sad! I am glad you guys are ok!
Debbie
So happy that you are both safe & sound and my heart goes out to those families who weren’t so fortunate. So sad. Looking at that tornado map was frightening.
Thoughts & prayers,
Jami
Wow, you were so lucky in Prattville!!! What an unbelievable event! Glad you are okay. Thinking of everyone who was less fortunate. Today here in Ontario, we got high winds , the tale end of some of those storms, lots of trees down. Crazy weather!!
Cindy
So glad that y’all are okay. I guess I’ve been living under a rock because I had no idea about all the storms until late last night when I saw something someone had posted on youtube about a huge twister in Alabama…y’all were the first people who popped in my mind and I am so glad that you are doing alright. That map is crazy!
Blessings and stay safe!
-Grace
Thanks for the post. I’ve been following for much of this year (I’m a fellow Alabamian, but currently living in Texas) and love hearing updates from home and seeing your beautiful work.
My extended family is in Cullman, parents in Fayette, and closest friends in Tuscaloosa – all safe, but so much damage. All prayers are greatly appreciated!
Was told on the phone by 1st Methodist Tuscaloosa today that they have a HUGE need for clean water. A water treatment plant was hit in the storm.
So glad you are safe! Thanks for the Red Cross info!
So glad to hear you are safe! The first thing I did when I heard about the tornadoes was check on my family that lives in Montgomery. They are all safe and sound, but my heart goes out to all those who aren’t as lucky.
We live downtown Birmingham…feel so fortunate to be untouched when mere miles away experienced such destruction. My husband works at a hospital in town and the stories of loss break my heart. Hold each other tight, so glad you and your lovely home are safe and sound.
I am so glad you are ok! We have been really busy and didn’t hear any news until just now. My heart just breaks for all of the loss people have suffered.
So glad to hear that you are both safe. Thank you for providing the Red Cross info too!
I just came to your blog to check on you guys ironically after hearing the devastating news. 🙁 I’m so glad to hear that you’re okay!
Thank you for the update and I pray that you’ll be able to help those in need in the areas affected.
Oh my goodness…… soooo glad you guys are okay. So funny… I feel like I have just heard from a dear friend!!!
Thanks for the Red Cross Info…. and Thank You LORD… our blog friends at TLC are safe!!! Terri
hi layla, the minute i read the post i texted to redcross. thanks for reminding me we have tragedies in this country that need just as much help as foreign countries. so come on everyone, text up! charlotte
Isn’t it interesting, the first thing I thought of when I heard the news were my “friends,” Kevin and Layla in Bama :)… Our prayers go out to the many wonderful people in your area…May the Lord’s tender mercies be over them…
What a tragedy…I am so relieved that you two are safe. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this horrible storm!
Sending prayers of comfort and peace..
My prayers are with everyone involved. Glad you guys are okay! My thoughts were definitely with you when I first heard about the tornadoes in Alabama.
Wow, I didn’t know you lived so close to me – I’m in Auburn and boy did we miss that one at Lake Martin by a hair. The sirens went off for about 15 minutes here. 2 of my daughters thought they had to “pack” for the impending storm and were trying to shove as many clothes in their backpacks as possible because they didn’t want to get caught in the rain naked. (????) Still trying to wrap my head around that one. We are working with “Toomers for Tuscaloosa” that has set up on Facebook to coordinate efforts here to send supplies and food north of us. Anybody want to connect with them and find out what is needed, the can join the page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toomers-for-Tuscaloosa/127019264041188
It is hard to sit at my dinner table now knowing that just 20 minutes north of me is so much destruction and devistation. I can eat off of my plate while another mother struggles to find hers and her children’s photos among a pile of rubble. My husband patient came to tell him that in this same area, the emergency teams were finding children in trees….. deceased. I’ve been in tears since yesterday upon hearing this. You see the pictures, but one cannot imagine the horror until they are actually there among it.
God Bless each and everyone affected and God Bless those who are giving of their time and heart to help each one of them. Everything counts people……. EVERYTHING counts!
Thanks for the link. Everything does count!
We are in Jacksonville, AL…just north of Anniston. Terrible damage in our county…..trees on houses, power lines down, houses totally destroyed…9 dead so far!! Sending prayers for the south!!! Donate to RED CROSS to help!!!
I am glad to see you both are okay, my heart goes out to all those who have been effected. I knew this storm was bad but never did I think it would get so horriable. I am in texas where this storm all began, it got bad and we had the same thing where the storms would spin tornados at the drop of a dime. But we did not get nothing like you guys did. I dont think we had a single person die. But we have hard hit areas here where the storms went. My niece lives in Grove Oaks, Al. and she is without power cause of damage to her line. But her home other than a little roof damage is okay. Bad part is she did not have home ins. I knew they had been hurting on money but they got lucky they did not lose there home. Lesson learned always have home ins. cause you never know. Just glad she did not lose everything. Well so happy to see you all are okay. Take care.
Many of us from Alabama dodged the bullet while others were not so lucky. The fury and destruction of the tornadoes was unbelievable. Alabama will be recovering for many months to come. Local schools, churches, scouts are all sponsoring collections. Needed items include small grills, batteries, flashlights…
Blessings, Jan@southernjunkin’