Joseph Bright
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 March 20, 2019, Erin Rider interviewed Joseph Bright for the Jacksonville Tornado Oral History Project at the Houston Cole Library. Joseph Bright, a student at Jacksonville State University, shares his experiences of surviving the tornado that struck Jacksonville, Alabama, on March 19, 2018. Bright describes his life before the storm, including his plans for the evening, unaware of the impending disaster. The interview captures Bright’s recollections of the tornado’s approach, his disbelief about the severity of the storm, and his last-minute decision to leave his apartment upon hearing sirens and receiving a call from his girlfriend. He recounts his hurried escape from the third floor of his apartment building, navigating through worsening weather, and seeking refuge at the University Police Department (UPD), where he and others sheltered in a basement. Bright expresses a deep sense of panic and disorientation, struggling with the uncertainty of the storm's impact on his home and belongings. In the days following the tornado, Bright faced the challenge of being displaced from his apartment, staying with his parents, and dealing with the aftermath of the storm. He discusses the difficulty of returning to normal life, managing insurance claims, and the frustrations of not knowing the condition of his apartment. He also reflects on the broader impact of the tornado on his community, particularly the disruption to academic life, as many students, including himself, lost access to essential school materials. Bright concludes by offering advice on disaster preparedness, emphasizing the importance of planning and patience during emergencies.
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