SAVING SELMA: Tornado recovery efforts continue in Selma

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

A group of volunteers is using a common proverb — a little elbow grease — and their faith — to help families in Selma — rebuild their lives.

It’s said — the way to eat an elephant — is one bite at a time. The proverb illustrates the strategy — of breaking down a large, complex problem — into smaller, more manageable parts.

And that’s exactly what’s going on with a group of volunteers working in Selma.

Mennonite Disaster Service is tackling the humongous task of rebuilding tornado stricken communities in the city — one house at a time.

“Part of the faith initiative that comes out of the Mennonite Church is service and peace and justice,” said MDS Project Director Rollin Ulrich.

“And so, this is one way to really walk our talk when it comes to helping our fellow man.”

So far, the group has helped to rebuild and restore over 80 homes in the city since 2023.

“Either rebuilding, remodeling or reroofing. That kind of thing,” said Ulrich.

An all-volunteer crew is rebuilding and reinforcing a 3-bedroom 2-bath home for a family whose house was destroyed by the tornado.

“You can’t see it now but if you looked under everything that’s covering it, you would find that it’s strapped down with metal — from the roof all the way down to the foundation. And it’s meant to withstand 150 mph winds,” Ulrich said.

“So, that being said, if another tornado comes through, this is the one that will be kept standing.”

There are empty lots throughout the city where homes once stood over two years after the tornado that destroyed a third of the historic city.

Mennonite Disaster Service has about eight projects in various stages of construction currently underway in Selma.