Tuscaloosa changed forever on April 27, 2011, when a devastating tornado struck. Thirteen years later, the recovery, rebuilding and restoration in the tornado's aftermath helped move Tuscaloosa forward in many ways.
Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Rob Robertson said the destruction from the April 27, 2011, tornado provided a blueprint showing how emergency agencies can be better prepared for the next natural disaster.
"A lot of things you see and how they do things today and procedures during severe weather ... there are lessons learned out of that terrible tornado, (a) traumatic event," said Robertson, who by virtue of his office also serves as chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Commission.
The EF-4 tornado, packing winds or around 190 mph, damaged or destroyed more than 12% of the city of Tuscaloosa — 5,362 homes and 356 businesses, included — and either directly killed or contributed to the deaths of 53 people. The storms that day were part of an outbreak of 62 tornadoes in Alabama.
Progress after the 2011 tornado
Robertson said Tuscaloosa County has made key improvements in emergency management and preparedness since the 2011. He said that today the county has more storm shelters, more ambulances and advanced emergency communications and alert systems.
Another notable addition since 2011 is the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Operations Center, where all 911 emergency calls are taken for the county. At the time of the 2011 storms, Tuscaloosa County 911 call-takers and dispatchers were all in different locations.
So when the 2011 tornado hit, emergency response times and the availability of first responders were greatly affected since some dispatchers had to take shelter from the tornado.
"Some of them had to stop dispatching because they were getting hit by a tornado. We don't want to do that again," Robertson said.
To solve the issue, dispatchers were placed under the same roof in a new, secure facility that was built to endure any weather conditions. The center has 12-inch concrete walls and 14-inch concrete ceilings, and earth berming around three sides of the building to protect against high winds.
"So now when one services can keep going, even if a tornado is going right across the building, that's what it's designed for," he said.
Robertson said he and his team often attend meetings where they reflect on the April 27 tornado and discuss ways to better prepare for future emergencies.
Recovery after April 27, 2011
Robertson, who was sworn into office in 2019 as the 16th probate judge of Tuscaloosa County, was working in the private sector on April 27, 2011.
He said he was away on vacation with his family when the storms hit Tuscaloosa. After hearing troubling reports about the storm's destruction, Robertson and his family cut their trip short and headed home to assess the damage.
"It was just shocking to see how much damage the community had suffered in such a short period," Robertson said.
In the days following the storm, Robertson worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its long-term community recovery team to aid in recovery efforts.
Robertson said the work he did with FEMA ultimately inspired him to continue to work in government and public service.
He worked as the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency's director before his election as probate judge.
The impact of the 2011 tornado
There's no doubt that the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak has left a lasting impact on Tuscaloosa County, Robertson said.
Some residents in highly impacted areas, such as like Alberta and Holt, were forced to move because their homes were destroyed in the tornado.
Some Tuscaloosa area residents have also developed "storm phobia" because of the destruction of April 27, 2011, which Robertson said is one of the most long-lasting effects of the event.
"I know people that today are very traumatized anytime there's a tornado and they get in a very serious state of almost anxiety and panic because they remember that day," Robertson said.
But he added it's a good thing to have a healthy respect for the destructive power of tornadoes and people should keep in mind that Tuscaloosa County is better prepared for weather emergencies than it was back then.
Even 13 years later, Tuscaloosa area residents are still getting used to their "new normal" after April 27, 2011, Robertson said.
"We operate differently ... And it's why I say the new normal because it's not the same after an event like that," he said.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
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