The largest need to help those effected by the brutal tornado that hit Alabama this weekend is money. In response to that need, Alabama Power Company is making a $100,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross relief fund specifically for Western Alabama.

Company employees and officials were on the ground in the Bear Creek and Hinton Place areas Sunday to see what kind of impact that the tornado had.

Mike Garrett, executive vice president said, "The devastation is unbelievable."

"Some of those individuals and families have nothing and we feel it is time for the entire state community to rise to the occasion to help get them back on their feet."

Alabama Power employees worked throughout the weekend to restore power. As an extra measure to assist other relief efforts in the areas most heavily devastated by the tornado, Alabama Power set up two community outreach tents in Tuscaloosa. The company has been providing hot refreshments, meals and a respite from the cold for families and emergency workers providing disaster relief in the Hinton Place and Bear Creek Road areas of Tuscaloosa.

"Our employees have seen first-hand the tragic circumstances that have occurred as a result of this devastating tornado," said Alan Martin, executive vice president, Alabama Power. "We just want to do what we can to help provide some relief to our friends and neighbors and we hope others will do the same."

Alabama Power provides affordable, reliable electric service to 1.3 million customers in the lower two-thirds of Alabama. Alabama Power is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company , an international energy company that operates more than 48,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity worldwide. Southern Company is the largest producer of electricity in the United States and one of the world's largest independent power producers.

SOURCE: Alabama Power