Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/31373
EDITOR’S JOURNAL RANDY GRIDER of Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Wednesday, April 27, first instincts were simply survival. For many residents caught in the path, getting out of the way wasn’t possible. It came down to getting to the safest place in homes and businesses and praying that you came through it alive. Sadly, in my hometown of Tus- caloosa (where this magazine’s publisher, Randall-Reilly Business Media and Information, is based) and other towns in Alabama and neighboring Southern states, many did not. With search and rescue still going on at this writing, we know that the death toll is more than 300 (the figure is 41 here) and likely to rise. Once the storm clouds passed, thou- sands of residents were forced to continue on in survival mode. The tornado laid waste to homes and possessions. No matter if you were rich or poor, it was the basics that were Into the Wind A s a massive tornado ripped its deadly swath through the heart Drivers prove again that they are always there in time of need NO MATTER IF YOU WERE RICH OR POOR, IT WAS THE BASICS THAT WERE NEEDED: FOOD, WATER AND SHELTER. needed: food, water and shelter. First on the disaster scenes were neighbors, friends, family and emergency personnel all working together to preserve life. And soon, and I mean very soon, were many of our friends in the trucking indus- try. It’s the response we’ve seen every time there is a manmade or natural disaster — truckers, trucking companies, OEMs, suppliers coming together to help. I have reported many times on the countless truck drivers who have, without a second thought, pointed their rigs in the direc- tion of where people are suffer- ing and come to the rescue with 6 TRUCKERS NEWS JUNE 2011 life-sustaining supplies. Many times, it is at their own expense. This time it was personal. It was my hometown, where I live, work and raise my kids. For the first two days, I was in the middle of the dev- astation helping my sister and her family salvage what they could after the tornado destroyed their house. As I worked, I could see trucks mak- ing their way along University Bou- levard, thanks to the downed trees that should have impeded the view. I would soon learn from cowork- ers and friends of the many truck- ers who flocked to the area to help. Carolyn Magner, a contributor for this magazine, rode with owner- operator Derek Jones of Dallas (for- merly of York, Ala.) and his sister Dawn Ward of Huntsville, Ala., who came in Jones’ personal vehi- cle with a pull-behind flatbed trailer. They spent three days deliv- ering ice and other necessities to storm victims. “For truckers, it’s just natural to want to help,” says Jones, whose owns a two-truck fleet called DC Jones Trucking. “We deal with seeing people all the time stranded on the side of the road and things like that. But I was also there because this is my home state and I was looking to help the peo- ple there.” Also lending a welcomed hand were Mercer Transportation Recruit- ing Manager Brian Helton and Recruiter Chris Swanks, who took up donations and gathered sup- plies in Louisville, Ky., and drove through the night on Friday in per- sonal vehicles to bring aid. Another Good Samaritan was Randy Grider is editor of Truckers News. He is the son of a career trucker and holds a CDL. Write him at rgrider@ rrpub.com. Bryan Johnson of the ZF Corp., who drove from Detroit with supplies. These are just a few people off the top my head who came in the first couple of days. There are hun- dreds more who deserved praise for the acts of kindness and I hate that can’t name them all here. I was inundated with phone calls in the hours and days follow- ing the storm. Many were the usual suspects; family, close friends and coworkers I see often. But I was pleasantly surprised to hear from so many of my trucker friends, many of whom it’s been awhile since I’ve seen. Among them were Butch and Dora Colvin, Charlie Hamilton, Marshall Platter and Lee Jordan. They called, texted and sent emails to make sure we were safe and to offer help and support. As with the National Guard, police officers, emergency person- nel and firemen, I wish that I had time to meet and talk with more of the drivers who have been here helping in the Southeast. See- ing truckers come in force to your own hometown because it is you and your neighbors who need help this time takes me a back a few years to another tragedy. I remem- ber how inspiring it was talking to drivers who went to New York City and Washington, D.C., immedi- ately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to assist in with the aftermath of that terrible event. Knowing that no matter what happens, they are going to be there for you, helps you deal with the destruction. As with 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, we first mourn for those we lost, but we move forward. And as always, it’s the truckers leading the way. From Tuscaloosa, we say again, “Thank you!”