Today we revisit the devastation left by a massive system of tornadoes and storms that struck Alabama almost three weeks ago, on April 27th, 2011, claiming nearly 250 lives in the state alone. Photographer Julie Dermansky recently traveled to some of the hardest-hit regions, looking for stories about what's next for them and finding signs of abiding faith and patriotism. Dermansky went to some of the areas that were hit by F-4 and F-5 tornadoes, including Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham suburbs: "Crews from around the country are out in force, clearing debris and fixing power lines in deathly still neighborhoods," she writes. "American flags and religious messages punctuate apocalyptic landscapes."