New documentary shares story of April 27 first responders | News

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- Jeff Kramer moved away from Tuscaloosa years ago, but in many ways he never left. Following the April 27 tornado, the volunteer fire fighter and film producer was moved by what he saw.

That inspired him produce this documentary.

Through interviews, YouTube videos and news footage, Kramer shows the damaged caused by the tornado and efforts by the city and first responders to take action.

"These guys were survivors and they had the duty to rescue immediately," Kramer said.

We talked to Kramer outside an abandoned fire station in Alberta City.

Fire fighters here sought shelter from tornado in the shower, and then emerged to help others.

That story is part of what some people saw in a private showing at another fire station.

"Definitely got a good message. It says a lot of important things about how to handle the situation and how the city dealt with it," Tyler Silverman said.

"When it started showing the clips, the same clips and the weather we were watching that day, emotionally it carries you back to that day," Captain Jeff Roberts with Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue said.

The film also shows the role an incident command system played in Tuscaloosa's recovery and how other communities can benefit from that type of command structure.

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