 This is a large, violent tornado coming up on downtown Tuscaloosa, being a safe place right now. This will be a day that will go down in state history. April 27, 2011 is a date that will forever mark Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama community. A decade has passed since an EF-4 tornado touched down in Tuscaloosa, tearing apart buildings and leaving wreckage in its path. Six UA students and one UA employee were killed in the storm. In total, 253 lives were lost across the state of Alabama, including 53 from Tuscaloosa. The UA community will never forget those who died and the thousands who suffered from the devastation of that fateful day. In the aftermath, the university and the city bonded together to heal, recover, and grow, rebuilding our community and forging essential partnerships that influence the university's mission of teaching, research, and service. In the years since, UA has girded its storm preparedness to become a leader in the state, opening avenues for research and building deeper, more sustainable service opportunities for students to engage the community. Although we will never forget that tragic day, the strength and resiliency of our community is the lasting legacy that keeps us forever tied together.