Tornado

Dallas Co. EMA hosts 16th Annual Be Ready Day at Bloch Park

From the West Alabama Newsroom– Dallas County EMA held its 16th annual Be Ready Day — Wednesday morning at Bloch Park in Selma. Be Ready Day provides people with the tools and information they need — to be able to properly respond in emergency situations. “It is imperative that people be prepared. Because that could help save lives,” said Dallas…

SAVING SELMA: Dallas Co. Jail rebuild makes progress

From the West Alabama Newsroom– The work rebuilding the Dallas County Jail continues to make progress — and phase one of the project is nearing completion. The jail was one of the many buildings destroyed in January of 2023 — when an EF-2 tornado hit Selma. The tornado ripped the roof off the building and caused extensive water damage inside….

ADECA announces Tornado Disaster Recovery Funds in Selma

From the West Alabama Newsroom– The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs announces a multi-million dollar grant — to help with tornado disaster recovery in Dallas and Autauga counties. Ten million dollars in Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery Funds — will be split between Dallas and Autauga counties. The money will help to address the remaining housing…

Selma neighborhood revitalization project beginning to take shape

From the West Alabama Newsroom– A revitalization project is starting to take shape in a Selma neighborhood devastated by the January 12th tornado — and years of neglect. The 1400 block of Washington Street is undergoing a welcome transformation. Some of the dilapidated houses that lined the street for years — are gone and construction of four new homes —…

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell hosts disaster relief update in Selma

From the West Alabama Newsroom– Congresswoman Terri Sewell hosted a disaster relief update in Selma to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts in the city. The city of Selma has come a long way since January 12th. But it still has a long way to go — on the road to recovery. The January 12th tornado — left a 23 mile…

SAVING SELMA: Dallas Co. Jail repairs making slow progress

From the West Alabama Newsroom– The tornado that hit Selma on January 12th — tore the roof off the Dallas County Jail — flooding the facility — and causing extensive damage inside the building. Now officials say part of the facility — is nearly ready to reopen. Crews continue to hammer away — at making repairs to the Dallas County…

Selma City Schools receives tornado recovery aid

From the West Alabama Newsroom– Selma City Schools receives $1.75 million dollars in state funding to help with tornado recovery efforts. The January 12th tornado caused extensive damage — to about a third of the buildings in the city. And some of the buildings damaged were school buildings. “That tornado caused millions of dollars in damages, uprooted lives, changed lives…

Selma Continues to Recover 3 Months After the Tornado

From the West Alabama Newsroom– People in Selma continue to recover from a tornado — that ripped through the city three months ago — and destroyed a third of the city. Although progress has been made in the recovery effort — there’s still a long way to go — before things are back to normal. Three months ago — a…