Contributed by the
Office of the Governor
Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed April 27, 2021, as a Day of Remembrance in the state of Alabama.
On April 27, 2011, a series of long track tornadoes ripped through the state of Alabama in three waves across 35 of our 67 counties. Tuesday, April 27, 2021, marked the 10th anniversary of this unprecedented natural disaster that took the lives of 254 Alabamians, injured more than 2,000 and devastated the state. While we will never forget the grave loss of life and devastation, we also reflect on how far we have come.
The governor’s proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2011, a series of long track tornadoes ripped through the state of Alabama in three waves across 35 of our 67 counties; and
WHEREAS, in total, there were 29 confirmed tornadoes in central Alabama and an additional 33 in other parts of the state; and
WHEREAS, these 62 tornadoes varied in power on the Enhanced Fujita Scale from an EF-0 to EF-5 and caused severe damage to countless homes, businesses and churches; and
WHEREAS, during the “Super Outbreak”, 254 Alabamians lost their lives and another 2,219 were injured; and
WHEREAS, in the days and months following the storm, the state of Alabama’s resolve was revealed, with Alabamians from all corners of the state stepping up to help their neighbors rebuild their lives and their communities; and
WHEREAS, Serve Alabama partnered with the United Ways of Alabama and coordinated more than 52,000 volunteers in the field for a total of 325,095 volunteer hours; and
WHEREAS, in the ten years that have passed since this tragedy, Alabama has made great strides in finding ways to keep its citizens safe from natural disasters and expedite the recovery process; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) was established and has since played a vital role in funding community safe rooms and upgrading our emergency warning systems to alert citizens to dangerous weather; and
WHEREAS, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, will mark the tenth anniversary of this unprecedented natural disaster that devasted the state of Alabama;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim April 27, 2021, as a Day of Remembrance for the tenth anniversary of this horrible event that has impacted the state of Alabama forever. I encourage all citizens to reflect upon the memory of those who were lost throughout the communities across our state.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary, Ivey also directed flags to remain displayed at half-staff on April 27.