JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — Recovery continues seven months after an EF-3 tornado touched down in Central Arkansas.
People are still rebuilding in places like Jacksonville. Redmond Road was the first place in Jacksonville we went to on March 31. Today, the road is clear, but the memories are still at the forefront for everyone who experienced it.
For many people, like April Kiser, March 31 was another day until the tornado came through.
"It was all boots on the ground," Kiser said.
Kiser is the public information officer for the Jacksonville Police Department and said she tried to communicate with everyone as best she could.
"I did Facebook live, just walking through the area of the homes, the laundromat and the church that was destroyed," Kisner said. "I literally would have to stop speaking because I got choked up."
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service, first responders and Emergency Management Departments met in Jacksonville to reflect on that day.
"March 31 was the strongest tornado we had had in Arkansas in nine years," Warning Coordination Meteorologist Denni Cavanaugh said.
Cavanaugh said communication is always crucial during severe weather events.
"The beginning part of it is the National Weather Service issuing warnings, but we know to get that message saturation out to people that need to shelter," Cavanaugh said. "It takes everybody saying the same thing at the same time."
Cavanaugh said coming together to reflect helps ensure everyone is ready if severe weather strikes again.
"We have people from all over the state because anywhere in Arkansas can get tornadoes," Cavanaugh said. "Anywhere in Arkansas can get really high-impact severe weather."
The transparency helps keep everyone on the same page.
"They also want to participate in those lessons learned," Cavanaugh said. "If the next tornado hits their jurisdiction, they want to be equally prepared for what's to come."
Cavanaugh said he hoped that those who attended learned something.
"If there are ways we can make information flow even faster," Cavanaugh said. "Get into if we're missing a certain audience, identify those groups so that we can try to target that messaging in the future."
Meanwhile, Kiser said they'll continue to recover and rebuild.
"We've all learned a little bit more on how to handle a situation of this magnitude," Kiser said. "The sun still shines on Jacksonville."