April 27, 2011 Day of Remembrance

Proclamation
By the Governor of Alabama
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2011 there were a total of 62 long track tornadoes that swept across the state of Alabama, creating a damage path that was more than 1,177 miles long and more than 20 miles wide; and
WHEREAS, in a matter of minutes, over 11,000 houses were demolished across 43 counties, leaving thousands of Alabamians without homes, generating one of the worst natural disasters to date; and
WHEREAS, more than two-hundred and fifty people were killed, and countless others were left with physical and emotional scars; and
WHEREAS, the measure of our progress can be readily seen in the tremendous recovery effort across our great state; Alabamians stepped up to help their neighbors and began rebuilding their lives and their communities; and
WHEREAS, over 9 million cubic yards of debris were removed from tornado-stricken communities; and
WHEREAS, in the days following April 27, 2011 the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund was established allowing monetary donations to fill in the gaps for individuals who had exhausted all other avenues of disaster relief; and
WHEREAS, Alabamians have continued to rebuild and recover from the devastation that occurred in our state six years ago; and
WHEREAS, Thursday, April 27, 2017, will mark the sixth anniversary of the April 27, 2011 tornadoes:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, do hereby direct flags to be displayed at half-staff in the state of Alabama on April 27, 2017 in honor of
April 27, 2011 Day of Remembrance
in the state of Alabama, and encourage all citizens to reflect upon the memory of those we lost and the thousands who survived.
Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 27th day of April 2017.
Kay Ivey
Governor