Tiny Alabama town rebuilds after 2011 tornado

"They built back and came through the storm then and we are going to build back now," he said.

Dobbs', the 23-year-old pharmacy technician, said Ray's Pharmacy is now in a temporary building, but is building a new store next door. Another pharmacy is also being built in town. She and her daughter, Kaelyn, have been living in a FEMA trailer since their small apartment was destroyed.

"The roof was off. The walls had fallen down. Everything was there, but it was all gone," Dobbs said.

She plans to stay in the town, where there is a major difference from before: "Everyone is scared to death every time a storm comes up."

A former downtown cafe is now covered by a blue tarp, but proprietor J.P. Gilbert has set up a temporary location selling barbecue plates called J.P.'s Grill.

He said most of his customers seem committed to building back.

"I hear a lot about coming back and a lot of prayers," Gilbert said.

For brothers Scott and Steve Sutherland, there was never any talk of leaving town after their family's home was destroyed near downtown, where they lived with their parents and four other family members.

Steve, 20, is an assistant football coach at the high school. He and Scott, 21, worked recently on rebuilding the house. He said it was important for the family to stay in Hackleburg.

"It was too important to keep this community together. There are lots of good country people who love life and who love sports," Steve Sutherland said.