While each City of Tuscaloosa team member has contributed significantly to Tuscaloosa's recovery, several City employees were tasked with roles integral to the success and continuation of the City's recovery and resilience.
First Responders
The brave men and women of the Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Services and Tuscaloosa Police Department responded without hesitation. Their brave actions in the wake of one of the deadliest storms in history are nothing short of heroic.
2011 City Council
The leadership of the members of the 2011 City of Tuscaloosa City Council guided the efforts after the storm. From left to right, Cynthia Almond, Bobby Howard, Lee Garrison, Council President Harrison Taylor, Mayor Walt Maddox, Kip Tyner, Bob Lundell and William Tinker.
Mayor Walt MaddoxMayor Walter Maddox has been nationally recognized for his crisis management following April 27, 2011, when an EF-4 tornado destroyed 12 percent of the City. Maddox currently serves as a fellow with the Program on Crisis Leadership at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2012, Maddox was named Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County (the publication for state and local governments) for his strong, decisive and comforting leadership.
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Robin EdgeworthRobin Edgeworth currently serves as the Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Tuscaloosa. Edgeworth has coordinated response and recovery efforts for numerous Presidentially declared disasters. Edgeworth served as the Co-Incident Commander during the April 27, 2011 tornado that impacted the City of Tuscaloosa and the State of Alabama. She managed the City’s immediate response and served as Director of Recovery Operations from 2011 to 2015. Edgeworth is responsible for the management and execution of more than $140 million in Recovery projects and FEMA funds exceeding $11.4 million. Moving forward, Edgeworth is managing the City of Tuscaloosa’s transition from Recovery to Resilience.
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Chief Steve AndersonTuscaloosa Chief of Police Steve Anderson leads by example. He served on the front lines after the April 27, 2011 tornado, actively searching and rescuing victims of the storm. He was selected as Chief of Police by Mayor Walt Maddox in August 2008. Anderson was sworn in on Oct. 1, 2008, becoming the first African-American chief for the city's police department. Chief Anderson has spent his entire law enforcement career with the Tuscaloosa Police Department, beginning as a patrol officer in 1994. Chief Anderson has a wealth of experience, a spirit of compassion and a dedication to equality.
"I remember watching the tornado from my conference room as it approached the Tuscaloosa Police Department from the southwest. After, I made my way to the Rosedale Court area and Tuscaloosa Police Department East Precinct, where I assisted police officers, fire fighters, medics and citizens from the community with rescue, triage, evacuation and recovery efforts. I ended up at City Hall around 11 p.m. for an Incident Command briefing with the Mayor and City staff. I spent the next three weeks working 18-20 hour days at City Hall, the Police Department and in the areas most affected by the tornado, assisting TPD officers, law enforcement officers from 34 different state and out-of-state agencies and the National Guard in maintaining security and order in the areas most affected by the tornado." |
John BrookJohn Brook serves as the Deputy Chief of Administration for Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue. In the aftermath of the tornado, Brook served as the Co-Incident Commander for City of Tuscaloosa.
"The memories that I have of the storm are of the tremendous dedication and resolve of our employees," Brook said. "The manner in which each employee gave of themselves in service to our citizens during the days and weeks following the tornado was truly inspirational." |