Hannah Yarborough
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).
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National Capital Contracting
On February 28, 2019, Tanveer Islam interviewed Hannah Yarborough for the Jacksonville State University Oral History Project, focusing on the Jacksonville tornado that occurred on March 19, 2018. Hannah, a resident of Gamecock Village at the time, shares her firsthand experience of the tornado's impact on her life, her immediate response to the disaster, and the process of recovery. Hannah’s apartment complex was directly hit, with the entire top floor destroyed. At the time of the tornado, she took shelter in a downstairs apartment, experiencing shattered windows and significant destruction. Her car was damaged beyond repair, and she was displaced, staying with friends and later moving to a university dormitory. The aftermath left her without most of her belongings for over a month, relying heavily on donations from friends and family to regain essential items. Yarborough discusses the emotional and psychological challenges she faced, including panic attacks and signs of PTSD triggered by storms or thunder. She emphasizes the importance of her support network, including friends, family, coworkers, and the university community, in helping her cope and rebuild her life. The university played a significant role in her recovery, offering guidance and support for students affected by the tornado, including facilitating her return to academic life. Hannah offers insights into the value of renters' insurance, which partially covered her losses, and stresses the importance of preparedness for such disasters. She also reflects on the need for improved communication and more shelter options during emergencies.
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