Andrea Porter
Jacksonville Alabama Tornado Oral History Collection
On March 19, 2018, an EF-3 tornado devastated the City of Jacksonville, Alabama, and had a significant impact on the campus of Jacksonville State University (JSU). Using an oral history approach, a team of researchers from JSU's Center for Disaster and Community Resilience (CDCR) conducted in-depth interviews with 25 residents of Jacksonville who experienced the EF-3 tornado. Interviews took place in the Houston Cole Library, were conducted in private, and lasted approximately 90 minutes each. An article was published in 2022 based on the tornado oral history project in the Weather, Climate, and Society journal by the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
To explore this collection and others resources, visit JSU's Digital Commons: https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu.
National Capital Contracting
On July 26, 2019, Jane Kushma interviewed Andrea Porter for an oral history project about the Jacksonville tornado of March 19, 2018. The interview took place at the Houston Cole Library on the campus of Jacksonville State University. Andrea Porter, originally from Florence, Alabama, shares her personal experiences during the tornado and the year-long recovery that followed. Porter begins by recounting the night of the tornado, when she was at home when the storm hit, causing significant damage to her house while she took shelter in a closet. She describes the surreal experience of holding the closet doors closed to protect her cats as the tornado passed, leaving half of her house destroyed. In the aftermath, she faced the immediate challenge of salvaging her belongings, noting the emotional and physical toll of the event, including living in a hotel for a year while her home was being repaired. Throughout the interview, Porter reflects on the difficulties of dealing with insurance, contractors, and the slow recovery process. She highlights the challenges faced as a single woman navigating the male-dominated construction industry, emphasizing the emotional and practical burdens of the situation. Porter also discusses her personal growth and resilience, learning to let go of material possessions and developing a minimalist approach to life after the disaster. The interview touches on broader themes of disaster recovery, including the emotional aftermath, the slow return to normalcy, and the complexities of rebuilding both physically and emotionally after such a life-altering event.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.