DAPHNE, Ala.—Becca Horne moved to the small, artist community of Mentone in Dekalb County, Ala., a few weeks ago to write for a the Chattanooga Free Press. She thought her leaving the Gulf Coast meant leaving behind a weather phenomenon that could leave a community without power and basic supplies for weeks.

But Horne was chasing tornadoes yesterday afternoon and could not believe the devastation she witnessed.

“I was out in it. I was right behind one of the big tornados that went up (Interstate) 25 North, constantly shooting footage and taking photos,” Horne said. “You would not believe the devastation in some parts of the county. I am 42 years old; even in (Hurricane) Frederic (in 1979) it wasn’t this bad.”

The small mountain town of Mentone, home to around 100 people, Horne said, was not in the direct path of tornadoes that tore through the northern part of the state, but the community has been without power since Wednesday.

“Our community was spared,” Horne said. “We had a lot of high winds, but nothing compared to the devastation other places received.”

If power were the only issue, Horne said the community would stick it out since members realize how much worse it could have been. However, when the power went out, the community also lost running water because there is no power to run the pump to get water up the pipes to her community.

Horne said she has been told by the Mentone water board that the community could be without power for anywhere between two days to eight weeks.

(Editor’s Note: A BaldwinCountyNow reporter could not immediately reach a spokesperson for the water board to learn more about this issue, and Horne said cell phone reception in the area is spotty.)

“There are currently a hundred families without running water,” Horne said. “I was able to go and buy a six-pack of water today — there is some water, but nothing is open down the mountain. Our general store is almost sold out. Neighbors would probably share water, but with 100 families spread out like we are, that is hard to do.”

To get the water flowing back into homes and businesses, a generator needs to be put in place to power the pump.

“We have been told all day that the generator is on its way but he (a water board representative) can’t get in touch with anyone. EMA (Emergency Management Agency) is overwhelmed. There are over 200 dead and there are so many people who are so much worse off than we are,” Horne said.

Horne decided she would seek assistance from people who knew how to handle widespread natural disasters, people who also happen to be from a place she called home.

“I decided to call home and see who is out there and if they would be willing to help,” she said. “The only thing is we weren’t prepared. This hit more than three counties, there is such devastation that each community has got all they can handle. Before a hurricane, you get a warning and you can stock up on supplies, fill the bathtub with water to get you by. Tornadoes don’t give you preparation time.”

She hopes someone on the Gulf Coast will hear her plea and help her small community get one of its basic needs met: water.

“That would fix a lot of the problems,” she said. People are sharing what they have, but you have to have water for the necessities.”

Horne said the community needs at least a 30-kilowatt generator to get the water turned back on.

For more information, call Brian Moon with the Mentone water board at 256-516-2828.