Alabama City Replacing Fire Station Hit by 2011 Twister

The city of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is replacing a fire station that was destroyed by the killer tornado that devastated the town on April 27, 2011.

Officials broke ground on the building Thursday in the Alberta community, which was one of the hardest-hit areas during the outbreak.

Fire and Rescue Service Chief Alan Martin says the new fire station has been “a long time coming.”

The Tuscaloosa News reports the new station will be part of a public safety complex that includes a police precinct.

The $2.5 million construction job is part of an overall projecting costing $3.8 million project. The money is coming from insurance and federal disaster relief money.

Officials say firefighters continued serving the area even after the old station was destroyed.