The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@windstream.net

From the March 7, 2007 issue
    The brunt of damage inflicted by the tornados and severe weather that swept through Southwest Georgia last Thursday evening was in nearby Sumter County, but Webster County also suffered significant damage.
   The storm destroyed two homes and a shop, injured local residents, killed some cattle, toppled a television tower, tore up irrigation systems, and even sucked up a portion of pavement on a county road inside Webster County.
   There were seven injuries reported, all from locals who were hunkered down in the home of Joe Smith when it was destroyed. Mr. Smith and eight family members were in the home when the tornado hit it and emergency workers had to dig through the rubble to uncover and rescue the family.
   Six of the family members were transported to Albany hospitals by EMS units from Terrell and Stewart counties. Two members of the family reportedly had operations to repair broken bones and other injuries. The fact that they had been transported by EMS personnel from other counties showed the level of cooperation and coordination that it was good for area agencies to have, as Webster County EMS had already taken an injured truck driver to the hospital after the tornado overturned an 18-wheeler, causing it to catch fire and burn.
   A paint and body shop adjacent to the Smith home was also destroyed, as was the nearby double-wide mobile home of Mr. Smith’s son, which is located about 150 yards away. The members of this home had gone to Mr. Joe Smith’s house thinking it would be safer than

staying in the mobile home. That decision probably saved their lives.
   Another doublewide mobile home owned by Keith Smith was also destroyed by the tornado. It was picked up at least 30 feet in the air and carried over some trees by the tornado, which turned it at a right angle from its previous position and slammed it down onto East Centerpoint Road.
   The road itself — East Centerpoint Road – provided ample evidence of the tornado’s power, as a section of pavement around 30 feet long was sucked off the ground.
   In addition, five cows died in the storm, the 1,096-foot tall Georgia Public Television (channel 25) tower was completely destroyed, and at least three irrigation systems in the county were destroyed.
Americus Hit Hard
   As bad as the damage was in Webster County, it was much worse in nearby Americus-Sumter County. At least one tornado touched down in Americus and the landscape of the city was devastated. The shopping center where Winn-Dixie is located was a casualty, as was the Baldwin Agency office and numerous other business and homes. In addition to homes and businesses, the hospital was hit hard.
   Sumter Regional Hospital received considerable damage as high winds bombarded the hospital’s infrastructure and turned cars over in the parking lot. The hospital’s Outpatient Diagnostic Center, the HealthPlex at Sumter Regional, also took in extensive damage and will be unoperational for the foreseeable future.
    “The most important thing is that we evacuated everyone last (Thursday) night and all our patients were moved to Phoebe and other area hospitals,” said Marcus Johnson, SRH Director of Marketing & PR.  “The staff and other volunteers did a fantastic job in the face of a horrific storm, and we appreciate all their hard work.”
    Johnson said that while the hospital is currently not operational, anyone that needs medical attention can go to 1st Baptist Church located at 221 South Lee Street.  The phone number is (229) 924-8999.  The church will serve as the ER/Triage area for the foreseeable future, and if anyone needs additional attention they will be moved to another facility.
   Also, the local Red Cross is also headquarted at 1st Baptist Church.  Red Cross Director Leisa Cross said they are accepting donations of all kinds, including monetary, and for more information you can call (229) 924-4035 or their home office at 924-2026.
    “This is going to test our resolve as well as the entire community as a number of businesses have been leveled and some people have lost everything they have,” said Johnson.  “However, we will do everything we can to continue serving the healthcare needs of our community, and we will keep everyone informed on the subsequent renovation of Sumter Regional Hospital.  It is going to take some work, but SRH means too much to this community to just let it go without a fight.  We appreciate everyone’s prayers and donations, and just continue to keep everyone who suffered a loss in your prayers.”