Deployment
Americus, Georgia
Tornado Aftermath
March 2007
Photo's courtesy of Guy McDonald KI4TKI (between 3-4-07 & 3-7-07)
Guy writes: "What
a blessing to be able to use a skill and hobby for His glory!"
Click thumbnail for larger view
Next two photo's courtesy of Donald Hughes KK4EL
How you can help our storm-tossed neighbors
By Alline Kent (reprinted with permission)
MACON TELEGRAPH COLUMNIST
The tornado that devastated Americus was followed closely by another storm - of a completely different nature.
It was a storm of volunteers from Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief.
The volunteers are often one of the first groups on the scene of any national disaster. The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is one of the largest disaster relief organizations in the nation.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief effort utilizes state-of-the-art trailers, mobile units that provide mass meal preparation, hot showers, laundry facilities and communications.
While the volunteers provide the basic necessities, what they really dispense is hope.
On Sunday morning, Warner Robins resident Mark Swann was in Americus, helping to set up a communications area at Southland Academy, one of the local schools in the storm-wrecked area.
As school was canceled for several days this week in Americus, Southland Academy employees were on hand to help the members of the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief set up shop.
"The headmaster was there giving us a hand," Swann noted. "And the lunchroom staff came in and cooked supper for us, fried chicken. They wanted to show their appreciation for our help, even though the school didn't sustain any damage, but so many members of their community did."
While setting up at the school, which still had electrical power, was convenient for the relief teams, Swann said that the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief team is ready for whatever situation the volunteers encounter.
"We carry our own power. We could set up in the middle of nowhere," Swann explained. "All of our cooking equipment, communications, feeding units are self sustaining."
Along with the groups that supply food and communications, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief has had teams in Americus giving a hand with tarping roofs and removing trees.
"We look at the immediate needs and try to help meet them," Swann said.
For example, there is a child care unit, staffed by volunteers who are trained to work with children and keep them happy and occupied while mom and dad meet with social service agencies or insurance claims agents.
And while the Georgia Baptists are in Americus trying to meet immediate needs, at least one group of women stand ready to aid their community in the weeks and months to come - as the people of Americus start the rebuilding process.
The Junior Service League of Americus is typical of women's clubs in most towns: The club has annual fund-raisers that raise money that in turn helps support other organizations in town as well as their own projects.
The club is organized into several service committees, one of which is a hospital committee. The Americus hospital was severely damaged in the tornado and medical treatment right now is being delivered in a M*A*S*H-type atmosphere.
"We are going to have to change how we serve there," said Katy Hagerson, president of the Junior Service League.
Along with their regularly funded projects, Hagerson said, the League receives requests to help with groups and individuals who need monetary assistance.
In the wake of the tornado, those requests are expected to dramatically increase at the same time that many of the businesses that helped sponsor the Junior Service League have been affected by the tornado.
One way we here in Middle Georgia can help our Americus neighbors is through the purchase of the Junior Service League's cookbook. Proceeds from sales of the cookbook will stay in the Americus area.
The cookbook, printed two years ago, is an updated version of one the club published previously and features more than 100 additional recipes.
Beautiful color photos of Sumter County landmarks help divide the book into sections, several of which are unique to the area. One includes recipes from President Carter's family, another features foreign recipes and there is a special section for new cooks, along with traditional Southern fare.
"We are about service," said Hagerson, "and what greater time for us to help serve our community."