By Staff
Our View
Storms tore through central and southeastern United States Thursday, taking the lives of at least nine people.
A tornado ripped through Enterprise, killing multiple individuals, sending a numerous amount of people to the Enterprise Medical Center and causing an enormous amount of damage.
At Enterprise High School alone, eight students were killed, three girls and five boys. The roof of the school collapsed and school buses and cars were overturned.
Not long ago the City of Atmore was also suffering from tremendous devastation, and has still not fully recovered from, hurricanes Dennis and Ivan.
Needless to say, the Atmore community has seen its fair share of destruction from natural disasters and we know how difficult it can be to recover from such loss.
A multitude of utility repair crews from communities surrounding Enterprise have been working diligently in the town to assist with the damage. The Alabama Power Company has mobilized more than 300 employees and sub-contractors to get the utilities of Enterprise restored.
The Enterprise Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Coffee County Emergency Management Agency, was given the task of supplying ample drinking water and tarps. The city is asking for donations such as paper lunch sacks, Ziploc sandwich bags, apples, canned drinks, Gatorade and individual-sized potato chip bags. All of these items will be used to create sack-lunches for the relief personnel.
There are also items such as blankets, clothing of any size, socks, canned foods, plastic utensils, bottled water and baby items that could be donated in efforts to help with the tornado recovery.
Monetary donations are also necessary for recovery. Atmore's Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union branch will be accepting any monetary donations and sending them to Enterprise. These donations can be cash or check form. Checks can be sent to Enterprise Relief Fund, Gulf Winds Credit Union, 220 East Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, Fla., 32534.
Keep the citizens of Enterprise in your hearts. Remember how hard it was for the Atmore community when the horrendous hurricanes came booming through just a few short years ago. There are people in that area who are trying to deal with the tragic loss of family members and friends. It will be a long process for them to recover from.
Send donations, remember how gracious surrounding communities were during our traumatic times and give back.
But most importantly, keep the family members and friends of those who were killed by the storms in Enterprise in your prayers.