Through storms and pandemic, Community Hero Christina Thornton works to protect Montgomery

Christina Thornton's job may not be easy to do, but it's simple to describe.

“Every person in Montgomery County is my responsibility," Thornton said.

That means when a tornado hits, she is there, often for days. When COVID hit, she was organizing vaccine clinics at the height of the pandemic. On nights at or below 35 degrees between November and March, Thornton spends her time keeping people from freezing to death in the cold.

Thornton has been the Emergency Management Agency director since April 2016, a time that has included a global pandemic and wave after wave of severe weather across the South. For her work leading the area's emergency response through those years, Thornton has been named the Montgomery Advertiser's April Community Hero, an honor made possible by South University.

“It has been a lightning bolt flash. It absolutely has," said Thornton, a former Montgomery police officer.

To do that work, Thornton has given up holidays, baseball games and birthdays. On Christmas, Thornton spent more time at the warming center than with her family.

And it is not just Thornton. Whenever she is on the clock, so is her staff. “I can tell you I would not be able to do my job without my staff," Thornton said. They are on the scene for every emergency, just like their name states.

“People have no clue who emergency management is until they need us," she said.

The warming center

Thornton started the Montgomery Crisis Center in the thick of the pandemic, when shelters for homeless people reduced their capacities to quell the spread of COVID.

Since then, the center has become something that people count on. It’s at 3446 LeBron Road, a spot that is close to bus stops and centrally located within the city and county, which are both the agency's responsibility. Thornton’s staff offers hot meals, showers, free clothes, cots and sleeping bags to people who have nowhere to stay during the cold, she said.

“They’re really like family," Thornton said about the people who stay at the warming center.

Patrick Lindsey has been volunteering at the warming center with his wife for about three years. He described Thornton as a kind, compassionate person, the type of leads by example. "But she doesn’t take no mess at the same time from people," Lindsey said.

People who come to the warming center sometimes have drug or alcohol problems. They sometimes have mental health issues. Thornton welcomes them all while keeping the warming center running.

“She keeps that place safe," Lindsey said.

Pandemic response

When COVID hit, the emergency management team had no choice but to stay at the office, in their own quarantine bubble.

“It really just kind of overtook everything," Thornton said.

As she was organizing the first vaccine clinics, Thornton met people who felt their lives depended on getting the vaccine. They thanked her for saving their lives. “That broke us that first day," Thornton said.

More than 835,000 people had contracted the virus in Alabama and there had been close to 16,000 deaths statewide by the end of 2021, according to previous reporting by the Montgomery Advertiser. By a year into the pandemic, more than 500 victims had died in Montgomery.

Thornton instinctively responded to the pandemic with plans to help people, said Melinda Shonk, the director of the Montgomery 911 Center and a close friend of Thornton's.

“She was at the helm, and she just kind of guided the whole ship," Shonk said.

Mayor Steven Reed said in a statement that Thornton is integral to the community.

“In spite of the challenges of several severe weather outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic, Christina has been resilient," Reed said in a statement. "She has been ready to take on any situation and lead with a solutions-first approach to keep our community safe. We appreciate her hard work and heart for everyone in the community.”

Severe weather

For every weather-related event, Thornton and her staff had their boots on the ground. That means tornadoes. That means hurricanes. That means strong straight-line winds.

Thornton is always there, coordinating resources to help those in need. The EMA also evaluates storm damage to determine who gets help from the state and federal governments.

In the past year, Thornton said she has handled responses to two tornadoes, more than 40 nights of extreme cold, six days of extreme heat and seven tornado watch shelter openings.

Her group even decides when the tornado sirens go off - not that she thinks people should rely on the sirens. She said that people need to be vigilant and pay attention to weather updates when tornadoes are possible.

"Any time there's a tornado watch, one of these tornadoes can fall," Thornton said, "and we need to be ready for it because that means the situation and circumstances are conducive for a tornado, and people need to pay attention to that."

Prior to her job as the Emergency Management Agency director, Thornton served as a Montgomery police officer for 14 years.

Thornton began training with the Montgomery Police Department in 2002 as a cadet before being promoted to sergeant in 2009, lieutenant in 2013 and captain in 2016.

At the police department, Thornton met her husband, who she describes as her best friend. The Thorntons now have three sons.

While she has dedicated her life to Montgomery, Thornton is originally from Mobile. But those around her say Thornton deeply cares about this place and its people, and that she will do anything to keep Montgomery people safe.

They also say she can accomplish anything to make that happen. "You name it, she can do it," Shonk said.

Need help?

Those in need can learn more about the Montgomery Emergency Management Agency here. People can contact Thornton at 334-625-2339. They can also reach out to the office on Facebook here. The office updates its account before, during and after storms. People can stay tuned in to weather events by downloading the Montgomery Alabama Emergency Management app with integrated weather radio.

Community Heroes Montgomery

Community Heroes Montgomery, sponsored by South University, profiles one person each month.

The 12 categories the Montgomery Advertiser will focus on: educator, health, business leader, military, youth, law enforcement, fire/EMT, nonprofit/community service, religious leader, senior volunteer, entertainment (arts/music) and athletics (such as a coach).

Do you know a community hero?

To nominate someone for Community Heroes Montgomery, email communityheroes@gannett.com. Please specify which category you are nominating for and your contact information.

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or 479-926-9570.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Community Hero Christina Thornton works to protect Montgomery County