Thought we would pass along this info…
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – September 15, 2011 – The Tornado Recovery Action Council (TRAC), a group appointed by Governor Robert Bentley, has begun a series of seven community forums in communities affected by the April 2011 tornadoes. Residents of these communities are encouraged to attend forums to share their stories from the storms and contribute ideas for the state’s future preparedness.
“We are encouraged by the proactive outlook we have witnessed from the community during this process,” says Executive Director Ron Gray. “Each forum will educate our council members about the issues and needs specific to each community. We hope residents of the communities we plan to reach will attend our forums to share their stories and ideas.”
All forums will follow a community conversation format. In this type of setting, small groups of community members will gather around a table to discuss clear, concise questions pertaining to their community. Conversation leaders will prompt each group to reflect on the method they were warned, their preparedness and their experience with immediate response and recovery. The community member feedback collected at each table will then be shared with all attendees. Facilitators will also capture the feedback, which will help TRAC develop strategic recommendations for the Governor.
Upcoming Community Forum Dates
Tuscaloosa
Monday, Sept. 19th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Central High School Gymnasium – 905 15th Street – Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Pratt City/Pleasant Grove
Tuesday, Sept. 20th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Lawson State Community College
A.G. Gaston Building – Birmingham (East) Campus – Career Center
Cullman/Hanceville
Thursday, Sept. 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wallace State Community College Culinary Arts Banquet Hall
801 Main Street – Hanceville, AL 35077
Elmore/Tallapoosa
Monday, Sept. 26th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Children’s Harbor, Harbor Lodge & Conference Center –
1 Our Children’s Highway – Alexander City, AL 35010-8620
Shoal Creek Valley
Thursday, Sept. 29th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Big Oak Ranch, Barnett Room
6000 Shelley Dr – Springville, AL 35146
Past Community Forums
Rainsville/Ft. Payne
Monday, Sept. 12th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tom Bevill Enrichment Center – 115 Main Street West – Rainsville, AL 35986
Hackleburg/Phil Campbell
Tuesday, Sept. 13th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
First Baptist Community Center – 525 Walker Street – Hackleburg, AL 35564
In addition to community forums, TRAC will collect feedback and recommendations through its website and social media sites, which may be accessed via the following links:
www.facebook.com/TRACalabama
www.twitter.com/TRACalabama
Upon completion of forums and research, TRAC will develop a report to document what happened on April 27, 2011 and make strategic recommendations for the future. The report, which will be presented to Governor Robert Bentley by mid-January, will help guide state and regional leaders and may include legislative recommendations, action steps for state agencies, and ideas for both public and private organizations involved in disaster preparedness, warning, response and recovery.
Tornado Recovery Action Council (TRAC)
The Tornado Recovery Action Council (TRAC) is comprised of 19 community, corporate and non-profit leaders representing areas of Alabama affected by the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011. Appointed by Gov. Robert Bentley, members of TRAC will develop recommendations to help Alabama emerge from the devastation as a stronger, more vibrant state. Recommendations will be based on comprehensive research in addition to feedback collected from community forums and online submissions. For more information about TRAC, visit www.TRACalabama.org. To schedule an interview with a representative of TRAC, please contact Julie Ward at 205-322-2284.
