“The weatherman said it was going to be bad but we didn’t realize how bad,” says Rachael from Pleasant Grove, Ala. “I grabbed my kids, put motorcycle helmets on them and laid down in our basement and started praying. I heard a loud roar and stuff crashing around. When it was over I walked outside and it was total devastation. Bodies were everywhere and people were screaming for help.”

Rachael’s story echoes the stories of thousands of people who survived the terrifying tornado that cut a wide swath across Alabama Wednesday evening.

Click here to help Convoy of Hope respond to crisis in Alabama and around the world.

Fortunately, Rachael had made her way to a Convoy of Hope distribution site where she received food, water and hygiene products.

“Where we are staying doesn’t have any power ... we didn’t have any food. You never realize until it hits you personally what people go through. When you have kids and you don’t know how you are going to feed them, it means so much to know there are people here to help,” Rachael adds.

Convoy of Hope volunteers have donated more than 3,000 hours since Wednesday evening distributing supplies to survivors in the affected areas of Alabama.

You can make a financial contribution to Convoy of Hope here.