Yet, Monday’s timing can’t be ignored. Another round of tornadoes raced across the state, killing two Alabamians and damaging homes and businesses, the worst damage coming in Center Point and Clay. Those storms also delayed the Tornado Recovery Action Council’s plan to offer Gov. Robert Bentley its recommendations in wake of the destruction of the April 27 storms.
Bentley finally received those 20 recommendations Tuesday. Most are both pragmatic and doable: more storm shelters, stronger building codes, better weather warning systems, and an increase in the financial assistance business owners can receive to rebuild their livelihoods.
But two recommendations stood out: improvements in how the National Weather Service’s precise warnings are delivered, and a statewide effort to build underground storm shelters — particularly for mobile home parks and apartment complexes.
Certain regions of Alabama attract tornadoes with alarming regularity. To live in tornado-prone counties and have virtually no safe place to shelter is an asinine concept. It’s time Bentley and the state Legislature do what’s necessary to start this protective measure.
Remember, lawmakers can’t stop tornadoes. But they, and others, can make Alabama a safer place to live.
