MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) - Ending the year has always been about getting rid of the old. It's a fitting thought in midtown Mobile less than a week after a tornado ripped through town. Neighbors are merely hoping to countdown on clutter.
"Plugging along," one woman said throwing trash into a pile outside her home.
On several streets, houses are recognized more for their piles of debris than the numbers on the door. "There's still a lot of debris on the street and i think there will be more to come as renovations take place and there's still a lot of trees that are down in people's yards that haven't been removed yet," resident Scott Tindle said.
It seemed city crews outnumber the residents in some areas. The few who were out were not out for long. Tindle came to grab a few clothes and head back out; providing he could thread his SUV through what little space was left on the street.
"We certainly didn't expect to be spending the holidays out of our homes; it's been a good chance to get together with family and do those things," he said.
Tindle is fortunate to have those relatives in town who can open their doors. For some of his neighbors, though, this holiday will be spent with each other. "Since the storm, we all have gotten to know each other better, spent more time together and all have bonded over a similar experience not a lot of people can relate to."
As the year comes to an end, there is one thing these families will take from this experience into 20-13: strength to withstand whatever the next year may bring.
City crews will not be out January 1 to pick up debris, officials said. They will resume debris pick-up Wednesday through Friday, however, there will be no regular garbage pickup during that time because of storm debris removal.
