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CORDOVA, Alabama — Decimated by two powerful tornadoes April 27 and buffeted by controversy during the recovery, Cordova isn’t the obvious place to hold a celebration.

But that’s what Kim Dunn wanted to do, and this evening about 400 people clapped and raised their hands to the music of a gospel quartet. Church drama teams performed and storm survivor Shannon Hyche spoke about loss and recovery.

Hyche said when he emerged from the storm cellar and saw his home destroyed he dropped to his knees and cried out and asked God why. But as he turned to see his mother and father, wife and children emerge from the cellar, he realized what we really important.

“I promise you there is hope. There is joy again,” Hyche said.

Cordova has faced particular difficulties in the aftermath of the storm. The tornadoes damaged all the historic buildings in downtown, including City Hall, so badly that they are all currently condemned. With many houses destroyed or damaged, some residents sought mobile homes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency but were blocked when city officials enforced an ordinance prohibiting single-wide trailers.

The city has also been haunted by questions over the circumstances surrounding three people killed on April 27. According to the surviving son of one of the victims, the family was turned away from a church shelter the day of the storm.

Hyche implored the audience to focus on the future.

“We have to forgive and forget. And to love,” he said. “We need to move forward from this day. Let’s move on.”

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