With relatives living all over the state of Alabama, I was worried when I heard the news of the horrific tornadoes that tore through the state on Wednesday.

I am thankful that all of them are safe, but it is heartbreaking to see video footage of the devastation and the loss of life the storm left behind.

Two months ago I wrote about the trees I have visited often at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn.

It was great to see a group of Alabama Crimson Tide faithful donate money to help save the poisoned trees.

But the tornadoes that slammed Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, Pratt City, Concord and other Alabama communities puts the Toomer’s tree issue way back on the list of crucial issues.

Friday when President Obama toured tornado-ravaged Tuscaloosa and declared that he’d never seen devastation like it, residents of DeKalb County – 150 miles northeast – were dealing with 33 dead and more than 200 hurt in the county so far.

DeKalb County is one of the hardest-hit regions in the multi-state tornado siege that has killed at least 333 people and injured more than 2,000 this week, the deadliest twister outbreak since 1925.

At least three University of Alabama students were killed including Ashley Harrison, the girlfriend of UA long snapper Carson Tinker.

She was killed during Wednesday’s tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, and Tinker was injured.

While Crimson Tide fans reacted to a tree issue - it was great to see Toomer’s for Tuscaloosa has been started by an individual from the Auburn-Opelika area.

Four trucks with needed supplies including two large diesel-powered ice houses were supposed to arrive in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Photos of the damages reminds me of what happened with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

While the heartbreak is enormous, the will to survive and rebuild is also evident in the survivors all over Alabama.

Our prayers are with them like they cared about us in our time of need six years ago.