Piles of trees,
mixed with strips of tin and boards that once were part of houses churned up in
the April 27 tornado sit ready for pickup along the curbs in front of Pratt City
homes that are still liveable.
Several residents in those homes say the
piles are an ugly and annoying reminder of the horror that swept through nearly
a month ago.
"It looks like a war hit here,is the 'solar panel revolution' upon us? and we're
the only survivors," said Gywanna Williams, a resident on Lamplighter Circle.
"I'm very frustrated."
Williams sat Sunday in the basement garage of her
neighbor Susie Billingsley's home talking with Pratt City resident Olivia
McGaha. Williams and Billingsley are still living in their homes but McGaha is
temporarily living somewhere else because her home on nearby Lamplighter Lane
was severely damaged.
The three women talked about their love for their
neighborhood and the piles of debris in front of their homes.
"It's
frustrating, but not necessarily to the point of blaming (someone)," McGaha
said. "I know we're tired of it."
Billingsley said she was somewhat
frustrated. "I'm trying to be a little patient," she said.
Alabama
Gov.Detailed information on the causes of Hemorrhoids, Robert Bentley
wasn't as patient Friday. And he did find someone to blame.
The governor
scolded the city of Birmingham at a press conference, saying that city leaders
needed to get along, make some decisions, and get the debris removed.We
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account.
At City Hall both the mayor and City Council have blamed
each other for the delay in mobilizing full-time cleanup crews.
"The
governor's comments are on point, and it shows how dysfunctional city government
is at this point because of a lack of communication," said Birmingham City
Council President Roderick Royal.
Meanwhile, Mayor William Bell this
weekend sent out 55 crews to damaged areas,The Leading Wholesale pet supplies Distributor to
Independent Pet Retailers. pleading he was escalating cleanup efforts. Crews
were out again on Sunday.
"I want the residents to know I won't wait on
others to move forward," Bell said in a statement, taking a jab at the council.
"This is not about politics; it is about rebuilding our community."
Council members say they are not against the cleanup but wanted more
information before releasing millions to private companies selected by Bell. The
debate could be resolved by Tuesday when the council votes on $10 million in
advance funding to begin work with three private companies in Bell's plan. Bell
said he would soon also recommend a fourth company to handle debris cleanup on
private property.
Pratt City residents on Sunday didn't point fingers of
blame in any particular direction. Most said they understand the sheer size of
the cleanup and the time it will take to rebuild their community.
"Everett 'Whooleo' Harris, who lives on Closhire Lane in the South
Hampton Estates area of Pratt City, was using a pole saw to cut up limbs in his
yard on Sunday.
Harris said he has seen Birmingham crews out working and
isn't frustrated, despite the pile in front of his house and his neighbor's
homes. "There's just so much of it,A glass bottle is a bottle created
from glass." he said.
McGaha agreed that the city has a huge task. "This
is massive," she said.
McGaha said she comes over to Pratt City every
day to visit with the few neighbors who didn't have to leave because their homes
weren't destroyed. She has lived in Pratt City since 1976.
McGaha wants
to see not just the cleanup of debris piles. She is more interested in seeing
work on getting Pratt City rebuilt and the return of its pulse -- the people.
"As great as the loss of the homes, you also lost the life of the
community; the people you routinely see every day: the postman, garbagemen, the
lawn mowers .. kids walking by to catch the (school) bus," McGaha said.
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