Sumter Country, Georgia, where my mother grew up and is now living—oh yeah, former President Jimmy Carter is from there as well—got hit by a tornado yesterday. My mother has sent me pictures of the damage that Americus (the county seat and her town) suffered. Three people lost their lives and the hospital is destroyed.
However, Habitat for Humanity is based in Americus, so my guess is that in two weeks 10,000 volunteers will have rebuilt the town. Please note that the tornado did not hit the west part of Americus, so my family is okay, only losing utilities and services.
My mother sent me pictures today, which I’m putting up below the fold. The man with the hurt head is my step-father, who slipped while playing on some wreckage and hit his head on a fallen log.
OMG! Those are terrible! I’m glad your mom is okay! Poor Bob though! Apparently, he needs closer supervision - no playing in the wreckage!!!
As a resident of the Historic District in Americus and an employee of Sumter Regional Hospital, I have seen the devastation firsthand. Considering what happened to homes and businesses only yards from my home, I know that my family is lucky to be alive. Americus is an aesthetically beautiful town with its trees and historical homes that are hundreds of years old. Our neighborhood looks like a war zone, as do other parts of the city. To see the interior of the hospital where I have worked for five years was personally devastating. We are a close family, and are grieving the loss of the hospital and the ability to work together each day to treat our patients. There are approximately 700 employees of Sumter Regional Hospital who may or may not be able to maintain their employment. However, hospital leaders are working diligently to take care of their employees for as long as possible. The coordinated effort of Law Enforcement, Power Companies, Red Cross Volunteers, local churches, etc., has been extremely efficient and organized. The work of hospital staff and others who reported to the hospital the night of the tornado are a testament to the character of our community. Employees were working in a dangerous setting to do whatever it took to move our patients to safety. I thought it would be good for you to hear from a resident of Americus who is currently experiencing the aftermath!
Update