BAY MINETTE, Ala. — While rough winds, rain and minor power outages occurred in North Baldwin County during the night a week ago today, central and northern Alabama saw severe storms, tornadoes and 255 deaths. So a few North Baldwin County businesses and individuals took up donations and offered services to help those areas.

As previously reported on www.baldwincountynow.com, area resident Lisa Davison, along with husband, Johnny, and friend, Beth Lamey organized a donation drop off at the Piggly Wiggly parking lot on West Second Street over the weekend.

Davison took two trailer-loads of donations for tornado victims to Temporary Emergency Services at 1705 15th St. in Tuscaloosa on Monday.

“You see it on the news and you know it’s going on, but it doesn’t seem real,” she said Monday upon her return. “Then you’re standing there looking at the devastation right before you and you still can’t believe it.”

Davison said donation efforts garnered $300, of which $200 was earmarked for gas, bottled water, non-perishable food items, charcoal, hygiene and toiletry products, baby items and food, first-aid materials, gloves, flash lights batteries, cleaning and household supplies, pet food, new undergarments and socks and clothes.

According to North Baldwin resident Angie Simmons, she helped receive donations as fellow North Baldwin residents Dustin Armstrong, Matt Bryant and Earl Emmons volunteered their time to load items, travel to Tuscaloosa, and unload items.

Additional North Baldwin efforts for the cause included Billy Long of Bay Minette’s offering a trailer for the cause, Piggly Wiggly, Winn Dixie and William F. Green Veterans Home’s offer of boxes and the Bay Minette Fire Department’s backing and storing of trailers.

In addition, the Bay Minette location of Regions Bank is accepting monetary donations in the tornado-disaster-relief fund.

The city of Bay Minette is also involved in recovery efforts of north and central Alabama. According to Bay Minette Fire Chief Phil Bryars, six Bay Minette fire fighters led by Deputy Fire Chief Mike Minchew left Thursday afternoon for a seven-14-day deployment to Rainsville, taking with them search and rescue equipment, a shelter trailer and a shower trailer to aid affected areas.

In a news release, Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery touted the fire department’s action.

“The city of Bay Minette BMFD has again exhibited its preparedness and ability to deploy quickly and effectively to assist others,” she stated. “This is a testimony to training and expertise, including cooperation and collaboration with Baldwin County and Alabama Homeland Security. The city of Bay Minette is actively involved and in prayer for our sister cities.”

Baldwin EMC is also assisting Cullman Electrical Cooperative in Cullman during this time, according to spokesperson Karen Moore.

“We’ve not had any issues or our own, so we are sending crews up north to help,” she said in a telephone interview.

North Baldwin agencies reported no severe damages from last week’s storm and plan to help other areas if called upon. North Baldwin Utilities is one such agency.

“As far as water, natural gas and sewer water, our operations are normal,” NBU General Manager Jason Padgett said in a telephone interview. "Not so for our friends in northern Alabama. We’re on stand-by if they need water crews or gas crews.”

Paula Tillman, public information coordinator for the Baldwin County Emergency Management Association, said Thursday that north Baldwin County was mostly unharmed.

“So far we’ve had no reports other than a few minor limbs in our area,” she said.

But as BCEMA has a mutual-aid agreement with the state EMA, the organization will compile a list of their resources so the state may call upon them if need be, Tillman said.

The 2-1-1 Call Center telephone line is also guide for individuals to volunteer opportunities within the state, according to an Alabama Emergency Management Agency news release.

“The caring and compassionate spirit of Alabamians is truly awe-inspiring. I’m hearing from a tremendous number of Alabamians who want to volunteer and help others deal with this tragedy,” Gov. Robert Bentley stated in a news release.

Davison said volunteers are still needed if efforts to assist are to continue. For more information on coordinating with her efforts, call (251) 295-0196.