Communities across southern Indiana and Kentucky devastated by a string of deadly tornadoes are showing signs of renewal as the anniversary of the storms approaches.

Thirty-nine people died in the two states as a result of the tornadoes last March 2 that packed winds of up to 175 mph.

Fire Chief Mark Furnish of the Monroe Township Fire Department in Henryville, Ind., says his town is determined to rebuild. Hundreds of buildings in Henryville were damaged or destroyed, including the town's school complex.

Many already have been repaired and have reopened, including the school and a restaurant into which an empty school bus crashed.

Henryville will mark the storm's anniversary Saturday with a parade that will pay tribute to emergency and cleanup crews that came to the town's aid.