http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohIVzIZLuQ

Wow, just wow.

1) Amazing footage. Amazing.
2) WTF were you thinking, son?

Too tired to sort through the comments, but as soon as it was posted his mother commented something to the effect of..."Yes you're very brave, now get home so I can hug you. THEN SMACK YOU". Made me smile a little. At least at the end you can tell he realized this was a dumb idea.

That being said, no one should ever, EVER do that. Especially after James Spann tells you, "that is HUGE". BTW, I saved this comment, because it's correct, and shows just how crazy this kid was:
"Knowing the University Mall area like I do, he was approixmately less than 1000 feet away from the eventual path at his first vantage point. Thankfully he moved to the other end of the parking lot near the soldiers memorial and turned back around toward the tornado. At that point he was probably only 1500 feet from the path of the tornado. At the end when he drove toward the tornado, he was only about 300 feet from the path."

My son and I have just returned home from Tuscaloosa. Worked all day at the Beta and DKE houses. I have never been so proud to be greek! The young men and women of the UA fraternities and sororities worked hand in hand and are doing a phenominal job. I'm going to try to post photos.

Edited to add: I'll have to add the photos later...maybe my son will know how. :-)

I think that those extreme coupon people, you know the ones that are hoarding food, need to donate a large part of their stash to the relief effort.

Donations can be made payable to the "Rampant Lion Foundation" and sent to PO Box 1880, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403. Thank you so much for your support

or

https://www.grsconnect.com/rush/rlf/

Contribution type: Alabama Greek Relief Fund

All of your donations will go to purchasing food and supplies to aid in the tornado relief efforts. Thank you for your support.

(Note: Under Chapter, please select "Psi - Alabama")

Had one more item to add. My son meet several young greek men from Auburn and I meet a young greek lady from Mississippi State. Again, very proud!

uagreekrelief@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/#!/UA_Greek_Relief

http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?...70141043043333

Supply donations can be shipped to- attn: Temporary Emergency Services, 1705 15th St., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.

Woo! So glad people are helping, and I'll admit I'm damn proud of them for doing such a good job. Tell him to send pictures to the Crimson White, too.

Anyone locally can also donate toiletries to AOPi through Wednesday...feel free to PM if you haven't been there before and need directions.

ETA: Were they looking for people to make deliveries to little communities around T-Town? I have a couple of friends with trucks that were going to go over there tomorrow and I figure that's something they could help with if they need that at DKE.

YES! I have been seeing many requests for vehicles to deliver all the food out into the community, especially trucks. The e-mail that UA Greek Relief sent out tonight says that they will begin cooking at 11 AM tomorrow, so if your friends can get there at any point between 10 and 11 to check in (or I'm sure it's fine if they can't get in until the afternoon) that'd be great. Tell them thank you so so so so much if they are able to help out, from those of us that can't physically be there.

be of good cheer, tornado victims. Help is on the way:

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/05/...he_is_com.html

Not sure, but it may be that not everyone can just go help out.

My brother has been driving supplies from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa. One trip, he forgot his disaster relief credentials (not sure what type of creds, or from whom) and was turned away.

Thanks! I'll send out texts now. And thanks for that tip DGTess I'll tell them to check in with those coordinating the efforts before they do anything.

Charlie Sheen is in T-Town today. If he keeps his warlock self in check and actually helps he could bring in a lot of publicity...I'm hoping this turns out to be a really good thing.

ETA: For anyone that is in the area AOPi is taking toiletries and Alpha Gam is taking clothing.

Yesterday at church, the minister announced that, if one so desired, to note on check/offering "for Tuscaloosa relief" and all collections so noted would be sent directly to local area food banks/churches, etc.

Question: is $ donation best thing to do at this point, rather than shipping anything specific? I am assuming that there is little to no "overhead" cost from the Greek page that I checked out this morning; and that the majority of a cash donation would be spent where need is greatest. Thanks in advance for answering this. (I'm always tempted to put together a "care package" and ship it but that probably isn't the smartest thing to do in this circumstance).

Red Cross and the like have been saying money is best because the needs change from hour to hour, so they can just get whatever is needed right that minute.

Thanks, Alumiyum! I'll follow up. Appreciate it very much.