Maplesville neighbors lend a hand after deadly tornadoes in Alabama

MAPLESVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) — In Maplesville, families are continuing to salvage what they can after Saturday night’s tornadoes. The community is working hard to help their neighbors in any way they can.

“It’s just like your whole world has sort of just… disappeared,” said Leticia Lopez. “It’s- it’s gone.”

Lopez came back to her home after a tornado ripped through Chilton County. All that was left was her front porch and other memories in pieces. Her world now fits in the back of a car, but she is keeping hope.

“There’s always gonna be a way,” Lopez said. “As long as we’ve got each other, and we’ve got love, and we’ve got our life…”

Lopez said now, she’s headed to a hotel for a week and doesn’t know what comes next. “Everything’s gonna be okay. It’s a beautiful day today. And we’re praying for everybody else just like we ask for people to pray for us,” she said. “You know?”

Across town, Isabella High School faculty are offering those prayers and putting together hygiene kits. Jill Green, counselor at Isabella High School, said at least 20 of her students were impacted in some way. “Just to see the children playing in the yards of what used to be their homes… seeing their belongings scattered everywhere, that was very overwhelming.”

But, she said the people of Maplesville have really showed up for each other. “It was really, truly heartwarming. Because Isabella is just such a special place,” said Green. “But, they really showed out when all of this happened. We didn’t show up to a single place where we didn’t see people serving.”

Nic Bolton, director of the Chilton County Emergency Management Agency, said they are working on finding a place for people to stay. “We know that there’s help coming besides just first responders,” Bolton said of the community. “And… they’re neighbors. So, it’s kind of, be a good neighbor kind of thing. And, it’s really heartwarming to see.”

Lopez and her family explained that they have no insurance. A GoFundMe has been started to help. You can donate here.