HIGDON, Ala. – For residents on County Road 95, the armed members of the National Guard monitoring the area 24 hours a day have been a comforting presence, a reassurance in a world where so many things have gone wrong in the last two weeks.
Looting has been widespread in the storm-ravaged area, with items stolen from homes every night, residents say. Even homeowners who have nothing left but debris or a small shed are camping out in trailers and tents to protect their few belongings.
But the Guard plans to pull out today, leaving residents worried about what will happen next.
“These are some good guys – we need them here,” Larry Smith said, talking about the two guardsmen who have stood duty near his parents’ home site. A tornado destroyed more than a dozen homes on the road and damaged many more.
“Seems like every night we are having to run people out of here,” Smith said. “It’s going to be trouble if they [the Guard] don’t stay. We don’t put up with thieves and looters. I’m afraid someone is going to get hurt.”