AT&T Working for Victims of Alabama and Georgia Tornadoes

Terrible pictures of the paths of the Georgia and Alabama tornadoes, AT&T wanted to provide an update of their efforts there.

AT&T has deployed a FirstNet SatCOLT (satellite Cell On Light Truck) to boost connectivity for Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) first responders, as they work recovery efforts in the wake of Sunday’s devastating tornadoes. The SatCOLT is positioned in Talbotton (Talbot County), Georgia, one of the hardest hit areas. FirstNet is being built with AT&T, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). It’s designed with and for first responders, making public safety’s mission the priority.


In addition to the satCOLT we’ve deployed in Talbot County, Georgia, our employees have set up charging stations in Opelika (Lee County), Alabama, to help residents impacted by the tornadoes stay connected with loved ones. Two of the Opelika charging stations are at the Providence Baptist Church at 2807 Lee Road 166; another is at Sanford Middle School at 1500 Lee Road 11, the hub for first responders. The employees also donated dozens of cases of water, diapers, wipes, batteries, trash bags, nonperishable snacks, toiletries, and more, to the Providence Baptist Church, which is serving as a food and supply bank of sorts for Opelika residents.

They have also created a text donation campaign to help those impacted by the storms. People who want to help can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to give $10* that enables the Red Cross to respond to and help people recover from this disaster

Tornados Once Again Hit Alabama

Reported tornadoes destroyed several houses and hit a maximum security prison in northern Alabama as bad weather threatened more twisters across the region Friday, two days after a storm system killed 13 people in the Midwest and South.

Police near Huntsville said people have been injured in Madison County and were being taken to hospitals in the area. He did not know the extent of the injuries, or how many people were hurt.

WAFF-TV aired video of crushed homes outside Huntsville. The station also reported that storms caused extensive damage in the small community of Meridianville, where people were trapped in cars.

A state maximum security prison about 10 miles from Huntsville was also hit by a reported tornado, but the inmates remained secured, according to Alabama Department of Corrections spokesman Brian Corbett. He said there were no reports of injuries but the roof was damaged on two large prison dormitories that each hold about 250 men.

"It was reported you could see the sky through the roof of one of them," Corbett added.