Community Corner

Alpharetta, Milton Parents Proud of Kids Helping Tornado Victims

This generation has stepped up, mother says.

Local parents are very proud of their children who have skipped coming back to a nice comfortable home, but instead are working to help the Tuscaloosa community recover.

Jeanne Tardiff of Alpharetta said it's amazing what the young people are doing. Her son, a sophomore at the University of Alabama called his dad to ask for a chainsaw.

"They have so stepped up," Tardiff said.

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"They could have come home," said Maureen Murphy, whose son, Patrick Murphy Jr., is a senior graduating in August.

Murphy said her son found one bright spot in the tragedy. He'll be in the same graduating ceremony as his roommate, who was supposed to collect his diploma in just a few weeks.

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"When you see what has been accomplished by not only him but all of the other college students working together to respond to the disaster, it's pretty impressive,"  said James' dad, Ed O'Dwyer. "The next generation has appeared to take on the responsibilities."

O'Dwyer, who expressed pride in his son, said James was an Eagle Scout, so he had to plan a project so that was good training for this.

Those students who had to come home aren't failing the example of their classmates.

Taylor Coffman of Johns Creek is one of many 'Bama students who plan to return in May to help the town rebuild. She stressed how most people don't understand that it's not the town or the university, but a community together.

"I live on campus, so the campus wasn't affected at all. But, it's such a community-based town, that school and the actual city, we're so integrated. So if it hits one of us, it hits all of us.

"I really, really was itching to do something. As soon as I heard they were collecting in Alpharetta I said I've got to go out and do it," Coffman said.

"I'm going out in May, too, so I'll probably bring some stuff back," she said. "This is our chance to go out and do something.  That's where I live nine months of the year. That's my hometown, and even if I wasn't especially affected, it's just something that I feel obligated to do because that's my community," Coffman said.

I've got friends who live out on 10th Avenue, and I know it's completely destroyed. Those are people that don't have much anyway," Coffman said.

Deven Eberhardt, who until a few years ago lived in Tuscaloosa, said, "The hardest hit areas are two of the poorest."

Coffman said it's going to take a long time to rebuild.

Eberhardt said she's been here five years, but her family and friends still remain in Tuscaloosa.

"I went there, just got back yesterday, and it's unreal," she said.

"My mom lost her car. My best friend lost her house and her car. Two weeks prior a tornado came through and my aunt lost her house in that one. It's just one of those areas that continuously gets hit, but nothing like this."


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