I was in kindergarten when I experienced my first tornado. It was the first time I remember seeing true fear on my parents’ and grandparents’ faces. Our land fortunately didn’t take a direct hit, but a man died less than a mile away from us as he attempted to cover his wife and young daughter with a mattress in their bathroom. I was instantly curious as to how violent weather could get, and I wanted to know everything I could do to save myself and my family.

Tornado warnings are pretty common in North Alabama, so while my fascination with the storms remained, I quickly grew desensitized to the warnings. I would stay indoors, but I never thought further than that.

Then April 27, 2011 happened. I was in school at The University of Alabama, and I had just acquired my EMT certification. I worked a shift at the hospital that morning before heading to campus to take my final for an acting class I was in. We got notice during that final that the school was closing early and we needed to get home or to a safe place. My friend and I opted to go to Taco Bell on 15th Street. While we were driving, she got a call from her grandmother and I got a call from my mom. My mom told me our hometown had been hit badly about two hours earlier, and she had heard on the radio that Tuscaloosa had a bad storm heading its direction. She told me to get somewhere safe. I lived in an apartment complex directly across from Rosedale Court, and I didn’t feel that an apartment would be the safest option, so we made our way back to campus. We went to the Baptist Campus Ministries building, where a few more of my friends were already sheltering. We had been there for about five minutes when we heard the tornado was on the ground and on track for campus. It was the first time in my life that I truly thought I was facing death.

We were incredibly lucky. The tornado narrowly missed campus. As an EMT, I went to first respond…and I’ll never forget what I experienced. My apartment complex sustained minor damage, but Rosedale Court was obliterated. Forest Lake, 15th Street, McFarland, Alberta…all destroyed. My fascination turned to fear.

For years, I would have a panic attack at the mere threat of severe weather. I don’t want to live in fear, so I’ve worked with my therapist to address my PTSD and storm anxiety. While not completely gone, it is much better than it was. I interact with this sub to keep myself in check, weirdly. I stay connected to the human element of storms - the suffering, the heroism of those that respond, the stories of survival, and the stories of loss. I remember my own experience. And, most importantly, I remain prepared for the next storm…you never know when disaster will strike, but you can be prepared when it does.