Reporter Shawn Jordan and videographer TJ Renninger said they could not believe the amount of destruction in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and neighboring communities after a series of tornadoes last month.
Jordan and Renninger went to Alabama to assist our sister station, WIAT in Birmingham, with storm coverage, but Jordan said he felt like he was not doing enough to help the victims.
"My first thought was that the videos and pictures you see on TV and online don't do it justice. It looked like a scene from a disaster movie," Jordan said.
Renninger said what struck him most was that while driving down the Interstate, there were trees that were stripped bare of leaves and bark, while others were uprooted.
"There was an entire housing project that was completely demolished and there were clothing and toys everywhere," he said.
Both said they were amazed that there would be one house completely destroyed or tore off its foundation, while a house 100 feet away would be intact.
"It was like that everywhere. This house would be gone, that one would be slightly damaged, another would be untouched," Renninger said.
"I helped a lady load stuff into her car and she was so thankful, but it actually helped me more than her," Jordan said.
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