It’s politically savvy these days to make comments that government should not play such a large role in peoples’ lives, that less government in many cases is better government.

There is a lot of truth in those statements and historically, the country was founded with what was believed to be a strict list of guidelines on how government should be formed, run and how much it should infringe — if at all — on the civil liberties of citizens.

But nothing in the Constitution ever provided instructions on how state and federal governments should respond in moments of natural disaster.

There was no checklist left behind by the founding fathers on what steps state and federal governments should take when a tornado wipes a town or city from the map.

Such has been the dilemma in the response to the horrible tornado tragedies in Alabama and with just about every other major natural disaster in our country’s history.

But while there is discontent on the response of some federal and state agencies to the tragedies in Alabama, there has been one group who has consistently stepped up to fill any gaps.

It is that group — the people of Alabama — who have provided the most care, the best response and the most resources to the people traumatized by the storms.

It has been churches, businesses and civic organizations who have rallied together in the absence of bureaucracy and governmental red tape to get help to those who need it.

It has been our neighbors who have raised money, donated clothing and purchased supplies for those they do not even know. It is our friends and family who have taken off from work to volunteer at shelters, cook meals and console those who have been hurt.

There is no doubt the role of state and federal agencies in the response to these disasters is crucial, but while they lumber to respond it is the people of Alabama who have provided the heartfelt care our neighbors so need.