College student lives through Tuscaloosa tornado
Cincinnati native and University of Alabama student Amanda Crowe has as story she'll never forget. She huddled in a basement as Wednesday's devastating tornado rolled right over her sorority house.
http://www.fox19.com/story/14537404/college

video report:
http://www.wxix.com/story/14537404/college

Rare Footage Indeed: Tornadoes, in Real Time
The deadliest tornado outbreak in decades unfolded live on local television stations Wednesday across much of the Deep South — and, remarkably, some of the tornado touchdowns were shown live, as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/us...er=rss&emc=rss

This girl is a Theta and is from the town I live in now. She is friends with my neighbor/sometimes babysitter. :eek: I'm glad she's ok, but so freaking scary!

Sigma Alpha Epsilon can report that none of our chapter houses were damaged, and none of our members were injured, in this week’s severe-weather outbreak.

The AOII house is fine at Alabama. Apparently some AOIIs went to Theta's house to stay safe in their basement. AOIIs who have been affected and need help can contact the AOII Foundation about our Ruby Fund. Prayers for everyone. Such a tragedy.

Greeks helping out: apparently DKE is collecting food that won't be needed this week (since most students are leaving campus for the semester early) in the sorority and fraternity houses and will be distributing it today.

ETA: AGD just tweeted that all members of the UA chapter are safe and accounted for.

My Daughter, Alpha Chi Omega, arrive home from UA last night after 9 hours on the road. It's normally a 5 hour drive. She was stranded in north Alabama for 2 hours waiting on gas delivery. It took an hour to get out of Tuscaloosa. The state has been hit hard all over. Please keep the students, residents, and relief workers ion your prayers. It's going to be a long time before T-Town recovers.

Is there any word about the AXO chapter? I know that the Gamma Phi alumnae have been excellent in keeping everyone up to date about relief efforts and what people can do to help. I know the national website had status updates after Katrina but nothing yet for this.

My cousin who lives there lost everything. :(

This made me cry.
Such a tragic loss.

The local high school principal just got back from Tuscaloosa, where he'd driven to pick up his daughter. Her house was pretty much destroyed but luckily, they were only hit (not badly) by flying glass. One of the house's walls fell on her car. I also know a DG alum (Titchou, you know who) whose car was smashed by a tree.

Have y'all heard of Toomer's for Tuscaloosa? It's an aid outreach by Auburn alums to help Tuscaloosa recover--they're doing some incredible stuff. This is in response to "Tide for Toomer's" that UA alums founded to raise money to try to save our poisoned trees on Toomer's Corner at Auburn.

Munchkin, There are no reports of missing, injured, or dead AXOs. One new member had a car parked at Tut that had a tree fall on it. That side of campus was close to the path of the tornado. My daughter went to the house for dinner after the tornado passed. Of course at that time they had know idea of the damage and deaths. She didn't even see the video of the tornado until last night.
Campus has been without power since Wednesday night, and the authorities are keeping the public away from the hardest hit areas.
We are returning to campus in the next few days to pack up the dorm room for the summer. I'm not looking forward to the trip. We had an F4 hit our town 5 years ago, and this is much worse.

The Crimson White confirms 8 student deaths. (The rumor is 15, but 7 remain uncomfirmed). http://cw.ua.edu/2011/04/29/eight-st...ths-confirmed/

~~ Both Ryan Smith and Grant Mills are University of Kentucky Sigma Chis.

YouTube video from UK News - University of Kentucky Students Work to Help Alabama Tornado Victims

UK students move to assist SEC family in Alabama
April 28, 2011 by News Staff
By Joy Priest
The Kentucky Kernel

After a huge tornado tore its way through Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, it turned the lives of people and students at the University of Alabama upside down, and UK students mobilized to assist.

“We’re just trying to help our fellow brothers and sisters down in Alabama and our SEC family,” SG President Ryan Smith said. “It’s just an unbelievably devastating event that’s happened down there, I just can’t imagine.”

An organization called Wrap Up America is leading the efforts in Lexington.

Smith, who is on the board for Wrap Up America, characterized it as an organization that collects blankets as donations to distribute to the homeless populations and underprivileged families across America. There are currently six cities with a Wrap Up America chapter.

“We got the news about Alabama last night and this morning,” Grant Mills, the Lexington visionary for Wrap Up America, said. “We thought there was surely a way that UK students … could help.”

Mills, who graduated from UK in 2009, said he saw a need and from there he began to work.

Today, Wrap Up America has spread the word on social media sites, worked with UK Public Relations and are hoping to tweet about it from UK men’s basketball coach John Calipari’s Twitter account.

“We have a partnership with a company in Louisville called Dorm Buys. Through them we’re able to donate blankets as low as $3,” Mills said. “There are a lot of people that are displaced and living in friends and families houses.”

To help, visit www.wrapupamerica.org and hit the link on the homepage. Mills said donations will be sent to the American Red Cross who will distribute them to those in need in Alabama.

“We want to offer assistance and help those in need, but also bring attention to the homelessness and the struggles that are going on in our backyard,” Smith said. “We want to help in any way we can and I know the UK community feels the same way.”

Wrap Up America is in the planning stages of hosting in event in Lexington during the fall.

All Alpha Phi's are safe and accounted for.