a tornado ate my home town

[campylobacter]

Even a pathogen such as I came from somewhere, or what's left of it.

I'm 2000 miles away from my home town, and I had to weed through noise about Britney's rehab or Anna Nicole's probate to find out the day after it happened. The local newspapers with the most immediate news don't have RSS feeds, which is my preferred choice for receiving current event news.

Enterprise [Alabama] Tornado News (aggregated feeds set up by one of my friends)
http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/GlFigXTI2xGFp4rKJZhxuA/

My folks are fine. My high school alma mater and many old stomping grounds, however, are not. Although I don't know any of the 9 people who died, I'm connected through their friends and kin.

Comments

[chzbrgr-of-doom.livejournal.com]

That's awful, I'm really sorry.

[franthewndrhrse.livejournal.com]

And your own house? Still standing?

[bcfan.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear this. {{C}}

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

The old childhood home has been empty since my parents bought another one 20 miles away (in the middle of nowhere), and it only had the typical lawn debris and wind-blown detritus. I'm trying to convince my dad to let a family displaced by the tornado borrow it.

Coincidentally, he was downtown watching the tornado pass by from inside the Alfa office, researching rates for HOME INSURANCE!

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

It makes me feel useless, not being able to lend a hand other than clicking a donation link.

I contacted my graduating class president (we just had our 20th Reunion last summer), and we coordinated an e-mailing to all alumni, directing them to relief aid contact info. Still doesn't feel like enough.

So I've been outlining a framework for an open-source Disaster Wiki that could mash-up GPS and logistical info with Craigslist-style self-regulation for any local community in a time of crisis. Not that it could be ready in time for my home town, but doesn't every community on the planet need to be prepared for epidemics, natural disasters, war, etc? Empower and mobilize the locals, so they don't have to wait for the government to get around to helping.

Sorry. I'm rambling. This belongs in a post of its own.

[campylobacter.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I always took my home town for granted. This disaster made me realize how much a part of me Enterprise is. My home town helped build who I am today. (The good parts. Don't blame it for my own eeevil!)

[bcfan.livejournal.com]

Creating a tool to help others help themselves in times of crisis - this sounds like a wonderful goal.

I'm glad to hear that your family home was spared, too. Your parents might not live there anymore, but the building must hold memories.