Shannon Siskey
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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On March 16, 2019, Tanveer Islam interviewed Shannon Siskey for an oral history project about the Jacksonville tornado that occurred on March 19, 2018. The interview took place at Houston Cole Library, Jacksonville State University. Shannon Siskey shares her experiences as the property manager of a student apartment complex during the tornado. At the time of the tornado, she was at her home in Saks, but her immediate concern was for the residents of the apartment complex in Jacksonville, where she managed a property that housed approximately 500 residents, mostly students. Upon arriving at the complex after the tornado, Siskey describes scenes of chaos, debris, and frightened residents with nowhere to go. With no basement or shelter available, residents gathered at the front office, but it was unsafe due to falling debris and live wires. Siskey emphasizes the challenges of ensuring residents' safety, rescuing trapped animals, and helping individuals retrieve their belongings in the aftermath. She explains that many residents, especially international students, faced difficulties without access to identification or essential documents. Siskey also shares her personal struggles after the tornado, including losing her job and the impact on her family’s finances, as well as the challenge of finding another job in the area. Despite these hardships, she highlights the vital role of local ministries, community support, and donations that provided shelter, food, and other necessities. The interview concludes with Siskey’s reflections on the importance of preparedness and the need for clear communication about shelter locations in disaster-prone areas.
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