Sherri Cunningham
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 13, 2019, Jane Kushma interviewed Sherri Cunningham for the Jacksonville Tornado Oral History Project. Sherri Cunningham provides an account of the devastating Jacksonville tornado that struck on March 19, 2018, and its aftermath. During the tornado, Sherri, her husband Ben, and their dog took shelter in their home’s bathroom, which was the most central and windowless room. She describes the overwhelming sensation of the tornado, including the roaring sound, the sudden change in pressure, and the feeling of the air being sucked out of their house. After the tornado passed, they discovered their home had been severely damaged, with windows blown out, a portion of the roof removed, and debris scattered everywhere. Sherri recounts the shock and confusion that followed, as neighbors gathered outside in the darkness, unsure of the full extent of the destruction. Cunningham reflects on the emotional toll of the disaster, noting the loss of stability in her life, which had been anchored in her home and family dog, Daisy Mae, who passed away shortly after the tornado. She speaks about the support she received from friends, community members, and relief organizations, which helped her cope with the physical damage to her home and the emotional aftermath. She highlights how the community came together, with people offering food, supplies, and manual labor to help clean up the debris. Sherri also reflects on the importance of resilience, seeking counseling to cope with the trauma, and the lessons she learned about personal strength and the value of community support.
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