Dustin Williams’ eyes were fixed on his computer screen as he watched tornadoes rip through the state he calls home.
And though he was miles away from the storm’s path, his heart was with his family.
Williams is one of several students at LSU originally from Alabama, devastated by tornadoes that tore through the state one week ago.
Williams, a Hispanic Studies graduate student, said he watched footage of the storm from Baton Rouge and relayed information to his friends and family in Alabama.
“They lost power — no Internet, no news,” he said. “I would call them and tell them to run and get into the closet.”
He recounted conversations throughout the day, noting a call with his best friend.
“He literally started screaming, ‘The sky is green and I see the funnel cloud’ and hung up,” Williams said. “I freaked out in front of Hodges Hall.”
Williams described frantically texting the friend until he responded 45 minutes later. He said this type of delay in conversation became a pattern because of bombarded cellular networks and destroyed towers.
Stressed and worried, Williams canceled the rest of his plans for the day and went home to watch the coverage.
“I felt so helpless,” Williams said. “I was a nervous wreck, and I still am.”
Williams said as he witnessed the storm, he felt part of the disaster.
“I was watching and thinking, ‘This is our home. It’s where we grew up, and now it’s gone,'” Williams said.
Alabama native Hallie Luckianow, communication disorders senior, said she felt helpless as she watched live coverage.
“When you’re two states away, what do you do?” she asked.
Luckianow, who is from Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, said areas around her home have been declared disaster zones.
“Towns were wiped off the map,” Luckianow said. “Everything didn’t happen in Tuscaloosa.”
Luckianow said she is fortunate her family and home survived. She said the tornado turned north before reaching her city.
“But debris was falling from the sky,” she said. “A Tuscaloosa license plate was found in Homewood. You’ve heard the expression ‘the sky is falling’ — it really was.”
Williams’ family also survived the storm, but he said many were not as lucky. He said his city’s newspaper was flooded with obituaries days after.
“It didn’t hit me until I saw the obituaries,” he said. “There were 10 in one day and 41 in the newspaper for the town near us.”
Williams said it was haunting to see the individuals’ names and the belongings of Alabama citizens online.
A Facebook page has been dedicated to posting photographs of found items and documents in hopes that people will be able to identify them, Luckianow said.
Luckianow and Williams said they have been viewing the site and trying to identify objects.
Luckianow said one day she was on the site and was shocked to find a photograph of a girl she went to high school with.
“I didn’t think I would actually see anyone I knew,” she said. “I can’t even describe how I felt.”
Williams said though he has not been able to identify any of the people photographed, he has helped determine the location of where some pictures were taken.
“It gives you chills to see people’s diplomas and yearbooks,” he said.
Luckianow said lives were literally thrown across the state. She said many people have nothing.
And the state won’t repair itself anytime soon, Williams said.
The duo encouraged all students to become involved in the relief effort.
“Yes, LSU is Alabama’s [Southeastern Conference] rival,” Luckianow said. “We need to put that aside and come together.”
Luckianow said the storm is the worst she has seen.
“Everyone seems to have moved on,” she said, citing news of the royal wedding and the death of Osama bin Laden. “Alabama has put a pause button on life.”
Williams agreed, saying he told Alabama neighbors who remain without power about the terrorist leader’s death.
“I called my friend and asked her if she wanted to listen to [President Barack] Obama’s address,” he said. “She gathered neighbors together, and they listened to it through my Baton Rouge TV.”
Williams said providing updates and researching relief efforts is his way of helping because he cannot physically comfort friends.
“I urge people to do all they can to help,” he said. “Even if you’re far away, you can still have an impact.”
 
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]