The Troy City Council on March 25 passed a resolution for a declaration of emergency following the EF-2 tornado that struck Troy on March 15.

The declaration of emergency was necessary for the city to receive funds from the state and federal government in the wake of the tornado.

“We have what we believe to be in excess of $3 million (in damages) just on city property,” Troy Mayor Jason Reeves said. “We need an emergency declaration to deal with all of the things we need to deal with and also to make a formal request from the state and federal government to access funds from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA).” 

Reeves once again talked about how blessed the city was to escape without any fatalities despite the property damage.

“It’s nothing short of miraculous that we didn’t have anyone killed last Saturday in our community,” Reeves emphasized. “The good Lord had his hand of protection on us, I don’t know what else to say. If you were watching the news coverage as it was happening, you saw a huge debris field – debris signature – at about 10,000 feet, and we just keep seeing it and praying because we didn’t know what we would find. 

“We had well over $3 million in damages just to the city, that doesn’t count private losses. While it will be difficult to replace all of that and get it all cleaned up, we’re not dealing with loss of life.”

Reeves was emphatic in his praise for first responders and the city’s employees.

“From the first moment our first responders and utility crews and Dan Smith and his staff – who had 200 souls at the Rec Center because they were concerned about the housing they were in – got to work,” he continued. “It was just unbelievable. Our environmental services crew has worked nonstop, six days a week. They’ve done an incredible job. I could not be more proud of the people that work for the City of Troy and the people in our community that got out and helped. 

“One thing that is remarkable is we did it as a community, we did it inside the structure that we have. Nobody had to come help us get the lights back on. When things are at their worst, the people of Troy are always at their best and I am very thankful for that.”

Reeves pointed out the department heads from the city and thanked their leadership and continued to praise the employees of the city. 

“These leaders deserve a round of applause,” he said. “The way they work together is remarkable, it’s never ‘That’s not my job,’ to them. It doesn’t matter what you ask them to do. You don’t even have to ask them, they’re trying to find something to do.

“Dan Smith is a rec director, not a storm shelter operator but he took care of it. We had firemen cutting trees. We had policemen doing all kinds of different things.” 

The members of the council echoed Reeves’ support of the employees of the City of Troy.

“I want to say thank you to our city workers,” Councilperson Sharon McSwain-Holland said. “Whatever we can do to support them we are grateful to do. There is no way we could sustain the city without those that serve in our city. These are people that are getting it done and sacrificing time at home to take care of the city. I am forever grateful.” 

Councilman Greg Meeks also relayed a story about the dedication of the mayor himself.

“The mayor was out there on Elm Street pretty much going door-to-door to make sure everyone was okay,” said Meeks. “One individual that lived in the back he couldn’t get on the phone. He had 100s and 100s of trees blown down in their driveway. The mayor was climbing over each little tree to try and make sure this family was okay. I think he got about halfway down and they called and told him that they were okay. That is what our mayor was out doing, going pretty much door-to-door checking on people.”