The buzzing of chainsaws provide the soundtrack for Tuscaloosa, five days after a lethal tornado destroyed much of this college town's infrastructure.
The death toll now stands at 40, with more than 300 people still missing. City officials say it'll cost up to $100 million just to clear the debris left behind by winds that, according to the National Weather Service, reached 190 mph.
"I think people are just now beginning to realize the huge job that's ahead of them," said Cobb County roofer John Hill, who drove to Tuscaloosa early last Thursday in search of his son, Beau, a University of Alabama junior whose apartment was in the storm's path. Beau and a friend escaped injury by ducking into the clubhouse of their apartment complex, which was left standing amid the rubble.
While the Alabama campus was remarkably unscathed, the town that surrounds it "looks like it was destroyed by a bomb," said Hill, back in Kennesaw to load up on supplies and catch up on work. He plans on returning to Tuscaloosa Wednesday.
"These people are really hurting," Hill said. "We can't forget them."
Their plight has been somewhat overshadowed by the news of Osama bin Laden's death. There hasn't been time to savor the news in Tuscaloosa.
"I can't take my mind off [Tuscaloosa]," Hill said. The other day he witnessed some residents returning to what was left of their homes, hoping to find a family photo or some other remembrance of life before the tornado.
Hill said certain staples, namely diapers, baby food and chainsaw oil, remain scarce. Able bodies are also needed, he said.
Beau Hill, 22, said some students have returned to Tuscaloosa, offering help wherever it's needed.
"Twitter and Facebook are blowing up with volunteer possibilities," said the Kennesaw Mountain High School graduate. "There's so much left to do."
About the Author
