On the Ground in Tuscaloosa

9 May 2011
8:00 AM

I've now spent three mornings waking up to the bright sunshine of Los Angeles rather than the morning fog of Tuscaloosa. The absence of thousands of people working to clean up what remains of their broken city does not go unnoticed. I can no longer look out my window and see a town that has been destroyed at the hands of nature; however, this does not mean that the work in Alabama and the South has been completed.

If I am honest with myself, each day that I am away from the affected area, the fire that was burning to help those that lost everything fades just slightly. This is human nature, so I am aware that this truth does not mean that I do not care. As someone who has seen this tragedy up close, I know I have a greater connection to it than anyone that has not had the opportunity to make such a journey. If after returning from Alabama I, myself, am not doing anything in order to help those that were affected, how can I expect someone without that special connection to do the same?

Fortunately, I did not return to my old life in New Jersey following my trip to Alabama. I took the plane to Los Angeles to start my new job with Splashlife. As a part of the movement that is Splashlife, I am now a member of their relief efforts. Our company is continuously building relationships with many different organizations in order to continue to aid with this relief effort, as well as others that are ongoing or have not yet occurred. I encourage anyone reading this to become a member of Splashlife and continue to follow and comment on our efforts and to share some of your own on the website.

If you are looking for more tangible ways to support those that have fallen victim to these storms, those options are available as well. Here are some ways in which you can help. I look forward to partnering with each and every one of you in something bigger than us that will help thousands all over the South and the rest of the world.

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6 May 2011
5:00PM

After spending three days in Tuscaloosa with the team from Splashlife, our hotel room had become a sort of home for me. When we started to pack up our belongings this morning in order to head out to Los Angeles, I realized that my time in Alabama was coming to an end and the word “home” was soon going have new meaning to me for the second time in a week. While my journey away from the sights and sounds of this tragedy was about to begin, I have come to understand that Tuscaloosa now occupies a permanent home in my heart and I eagerly anticipate visiting in the future to see how the rebuilding has progressed.

As the team saddled up our rental car and began the long drive to the Atlanta airport, I found myself staring out the window for one last mental picture of the devastation Mother Nature had laid upon the area. As the distance between our car and Tuscaloosa began to grow, I could see in the passing landscape the effects of the storm starting to diminish. Spotting a home with a tree resting on top of it was no longer something to be expected. The epicenter of the storm well behind us, I thought about the people that lived in the town through which I was passing. I knew it was entirely possible that the tornadoes had absolutely zero effect on the normalcy of their lives and I wondered whether or not they had changed their routine in any way since last week. Having lived in New Jersey when the events of last week took place, I dare not question whether or not I, myself, would feel this convicted to help if I had not seen the damages first-hand because I know the answer. However, I have been face to face with individuals whose lives have been absolutely destroyed. That experience changes a person, and I am optimistic that through this blog I have found a way to change others that have not been able to make a personal connection with the victims.

When we arrived in Atlanta, we decided to sit down for one final lunch before we went to the airport. Pulling up chairs with my two new colleagues, who I consider my newest friends, we reminisced about our experiences this past week. The wonderful food and even better conversation was a perfect way to end our trip. At the conclusion of our meal we each decided to raise our glass for a toast. Gadi put his glass in the air and said, “To the end of one adventure and the beginning of many more.” Fred pointed his drink toward the sky and said, “To the people of Alabama. For their southern hospitality in the face of such a horrible tragedy.” I raised my glass, turned toward Fred and Gadi, and said the first thing that came to my mind: “Thank you for a wonderful experience and here’s to an amazing future together.”  

As I am about to board the plane for Los Angeles, I feel as if I am turning the page on the previous chapter of my life. While there is sadness in that decision, I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing right now. The pages of the next chapters of my life remain empty, but I cannot hide the anticipation to fill them with the new and amazing opportunities I will be offered with Splashlife.

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5 May 2011
7:00PM

There are times when you look back on the events of a given day and realize that it did not go at all the way you had anticipated. For me, today was one of those days. However, while the events of today were not what I was expecting, if I was given the chance to go back and change the outcome I would not alter a moment. 

When Team Splashlife met with Team Rubicon at the fire department in the small town of Dora, the plan was to head to the home of someone that needed help moving some of the debris from their yard. It turned out that there was a woman who lived in the neighboring town of Argo that required the assistance of Team Rubicon at her home. Departing from Dora we drove deeper and deeper into the woods until we were finally approaching her house. Our vehicles were surrounded by thousands of trees many of which were lying in her yard and on her house and belongings.

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5 May 2011
7:00 AM

Tornadoes are unlike most natural disasters that leave behind traces of destruction. In some ways they can be forgiving. In the wake of the storm there are many parts of Tuscaloosa that appear to be completely untouched and unaffected. In other ways they can be cruel. This can be seen in the eyes of a victim staring at the pile of wood and concrete that used to be their house, while their next-door neighbor is merely replacing the 13 shingles that were blown off their roof. It sometimes feels as if the tornado itself picks and chooses specific victims while leaving others untouched.

The same distinction can be made on a larger scale. The storm that struck Alabama last week was very large and consisted of multiple twisters. While some of the small towns that neighbor Tuscaloosa were spared, others were hit just as hard.  Some people are calling Tuscaloosa the “ground zero” of the storm, in that the most damage was done there. In so doing, many of the volunteers that have come to aid the victims have come to this town and neglected the neighbors that are suffering equally. Fortunately, some volunteer organizations, such as Team Rubicon, have realized this and are doing something about it.

When Team Splashlife arrived in Alabama at the start of the week, members of the volunteer group, Team Rubicon, helped us survey the affected areas and we began to understand the event that had taken place. Team Rubicon is a disaster relief organization made up of mostly veterans of the United States military. They use their various backgrounds and training in order to aid their fellow man in times of need. They have historically only assisted in countries overseas, such as Haiti, Iraq, and Pakistan. The tornadoes that struck the Alabama area, however, offered an opportunity for them to launch their first domestic relief initiative.

Team Rubicon was able to show us around the area on Tuesday because they had already started to help clear out debris in Tuscaloosa days before. When they got word that there were small towns in the distance that had also been hit by tornadoes and were not receiving anywhere near as much assistance as Tuscaloosa, they decided to move their operation to some of the smaller towns.  Before they left, we informed them that we wanted to meet back up with them later in the week in one of the neighboring communities to watch them in action.

That is where we find ourselves this morning. Team Splashlife has traveled over an hour outside of Tuscaloosa to a city named Dora. We have met up with Team Rubicon and we will be heading out to those in the area that need assistance shortly.  It is certainly going to be great to see these men work, and I am sure that the faces of the people that thought they were forgotten will light up when they realize that there are indeed people around that desire to help them as well.

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4 May 2011
6:00 PM

The countless volunteer organizations present at the site of these tornadoes have been incredible. Due to the rainy weather yesterday, it was difficult to get an idea of just how many people have given of their time to help cleanup after this disaster. Today, our team connected with one of these organizations and spent the afternoon walking around with them in order to see how they have chosen to serve their fellow man.

The Campus Veterans Association is a growing group of veterans from different arms of the military that band together and support one another following their return from deployment. After the storms hit the Tuscaloosa area, the members of the CVA chose to put together some hot meals and distribute them along with cold water to people in the surrounding community. We walked alongside a few members of the organization toward an area where many neighborhoods used to stand. Whenever they saw another person, they would call out to them and ask if they wanted a meal and water. Some declined and some accepted, but all were grateful for the offer.

An especially humbling moment came when we arrived at an older gentleman’s house where a large white oak tree had fallen through the roof in the storm. When the members of the CVA offered him some food and water, not only did he happily accept, but he also allowed us to walk into his home and witness the destruction first hand. As the man recounted his story and showed us the different rooms in his house, it was clear that he was appreciative just to have people that cared about him.

If there were only one memory that I could take away from sharing this afternoon with the Campus Veterans Association it is the way that one member said to each and every person he encountered, “I’m happy that you are okay.”  Showing such personal compassion for individuals he had never met is a quality I will attempt to mimic moving forward. While the tornadoes may have brought out the worst in nature and its ability to destroy, I am slowly beginning to realize it has also brought out some of the best qualities in the people that have responded. I appreciate the opportunity I had to serve alongside the members of the CVA. It was awesome to see them in action, and I was comforted to think to myself that this was just one of the many organizations that have answered the call following this disaster.

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4 May 2011
10:00 AM

It has not been difficult to find places in which we can see the remains of what were once solid structures in Tuscaloosa. When we first caught a glimpse of what some of the tornadoes left in their wakes I commented that the scene we were looking at was devastating. My teammate Gadi told me that while the destroyed homes themselves were indeed upsetting, it was nowhere near as heartbreaking as the stories of the people that had once lived in those very houses. I knew that there was truth in that statement, however I did not realize just how much until just a few hours ago.

After filming the sun rising over what remained of a local neighborhood, we ran into a young man named Ryan who just happened to be evaluating the damage done to his home with a representative from FEMA. We quickly realized that the pile of broken wood and vehicles he was pointing at was in fact the remains of the place he used to call home. We took this opportunity to speak with Ryan about his experiences with the tornado and how he felt in the days since it struck.

Ryan’s story was incredible. He was actually in his home when the storm hit his neighborhood. He managed to make it down into his basement before the worst of the tornado claimed everything except the foundation of his house. Having been knocked unconscious for a moment, Ryan awoke in a pile of debris that included the mangled remains of what were once his walls and belongings as well as two SUVs that had blown on top of him. Fortunately, save for a few minor bruises, he was able to dig his way out and emerge from the wreckage physically unharmed.

Emotionally, however, you could easily see that Ryan was still learning how to cope with the fact that he needed to start over in a lot of ways that he had not anticipated. One idea that was abundantly clear was the fact that he no longer wanted to live in the same place and be reminded of this experience. He is not exactly sure where he is going to go and what he is going to do, but he seems optimistic for someone whose home was recently reduced to rubble.

4 May 2011
7:00 AM

Our second day in Tuscaloosa began very early in the morning. We decided last night that capturing the sun rising at daybreak would be important. Despite the fog that had settled on the city, we set out to find the perfect shot of the 6:59AM sunrise. When the camera was set into place, we were ready for the new day to begin.

More and more of the surrounding landscape began to reveal itself as the sun started to inch its way above the horizon. We chose to set up our camera in an area particularly hard hit by the storm. The sun proceeded to rise higher into the morning sky and as the fog that engulfed us began to lift, it was clear that the neighborhood in which we were standing was larger than we could originally see. The sunlight continued to flood the entire landscape and the scene of demolished houses came into focus as far as the sunshine stretched.

As morning progressed, life began to emerge from every direction. The previously desolate neighborhood streets suddenly filled with volunteers moving up and down. The engines of the cranes and vehicles that had been restless in the night roared to life and began what will certainly be a long and tedious cleanup. It occurred to me that a new dawn in this area will not only come as the sun rises, but also as the efforts of the disaster relief are fulfilled and lives are rebuilt in a community that, at present, appears beyond repair.
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3 May 2011

As I stand in the center of what was once a normal residential neighborhood in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, I take a look around and realize that the wreckage caused by tornadoes is surrounding me on every side. The street that was once lined with homes is now merely a landfill that the homeowners themselves might have trouble recognizing. The scene is overwhelming. So when I think about the fact that less than 24 hours ago I was in my hometown in New Jersey, I can hardly believe the opportunity that I have been given.

My name is Scott Lederer, and I am the newest member of the Splashlife team. Following a conversation with some Splashlife colleagues last night, I was asked if I would like to travel down to Alabama and help tell the story of the destruction the tornadoes had on this region a week ago. The chance of a lifetime was staring me in the face and I could not let it pass. The only question that remained was when I would be leaving. When asked if I could make a 6:00AM flight the following morning, I spent the next six hours packing and saying goodbye to my family and friends.

Over the next few days I will be posting blog entries, pictures, and videos about my experiences with the rest of the team in Alabama. We will spend time speaking with different people from the area and hearing their stories of how the storm has affected their lives. We will also be in touch with some of the individuals that have taken it upon themselves to come to the aid of those in need following the destruction left by the tornadoes.

My hope is that through my posts I am able to portray a reality of what it means to drop everything in a matter of hours and pursue an opportunity with Splashlife. I am not exactly sure what the future holds for me, but I am optimistic that I am going to look back on the moment I decided to leave without questioning and realize it was one of the greatest choices I had ever made.