Friday, November 05, 2004, Bob Tribble, LDR, VP of GAVOAD and Dick Balnicky, FEMA VAL, met with Charlton County EMA Director, Monroe (Bo) Todd, in Folkston, Ga. We were there at Mr. Todd's request. Charlton Co Had been struck by three disastrous Hurricanes over few short weeks, causing the St. Mary's River to rise out of it's banks and flood Thirty homes that stood on the bluff overlooking it. These homes are now infested with Black Mold (see attached photos). Some families, who "Have no other place to go!” are moving back into these homes even though the mold is a proven health hazard. Mr. Todd stated that there were four more home with similar flooding damage, and twenty homes with minor damage, elsewhere in the county.
Mr Todd gave us a tour of the flooded homes on St Marys Bluff Rd in Southern Charlton Co, across the St Marys River from The State of Florida, also hit by these same storms. The scene was very disheartening; the smell of mold was in every house we visited, the walls were covered with ugly black mold, and floors turning up. There is a definite need for a Long term Recovery in Charlton Co. as these victims have no way to recover without outside help. The member organizations of GAVOAD are asked to help in this urgent need. This County along with twelve other South Georgia counties have not been declared for any individual assistance in any of the three hurricanes that flood it. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue requested a Presidential Declaration for these counties, the request is still pending.
Flooded Home with Black Mold
S GA Interfaith Long Term Recovery Committee
Federal Emergency Management Agengy The Voluntary Disaster Relief Organizations are
developing an ILTRC that will cover the counties
in N Flordia and S Georgia that suffered from
the hurricanes of 2004. This is an innovative
response to the S Georgia's needs. This ILTRC
is an idea of Joan Lewin and Dick Balnicky,the
FEMA VALs in N FL and GA.
Georgia will have the N Florida's community
assets to help with the administration of
the response in the mostly rural counties
damaged in the storms.
South Georgia Lutheran Pastors are helping
Rev Barbara Gibson, Pastor of Joy Lutheran Church
in St Marys, GA. and Rev Don Vollenweider,Pastor
of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Valdosta, GA.
are assisting LDRGA's Coordinator, Bob Tribble,
in the relief efforts in S GA.
Rev Gibson will be the Lutheran Representative
on the GA/FL ILTR located in Baker CO FL and
Charlton CO GA.
Rev Vollenweider will assist Rev Gibson with technical
advice( Pastor Don chaired an ILTRC in Columbus, MS),
and will be the Lutheran Representative
on the LTRC in Valdosta, GA
S GA Tornadoes
Neighbors reach out in GA
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HEATHER MOYER
COLQUITT, Ga. (April 1, 2005) —
Neighbors are helping neighbors after powerful tornadoes roared through southwest Georgia.
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We expect to get more calls once the weather clears up a bit.
—Duren Williams
Last week, twisters hit several small towns in Miller, Seminole and Wayne counties, killing one person and destroying more than 50 homes and damaging at least 100 others. The hardest hit communities are Donalsonville, Colquitt, and Screven.
With support from Lutheran Disaster Response and the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the communities are forming interfaith teams to help people recover and rebuild.
“We're just starting to get this rolling,” said the Rev. David Womack of the Miller County Interfaith Recovery Committee (MCIRC). “We're now getting to the point where we're trying to get the word out.”
Womack added that MCIRC could potentially expand to cover other nearby counties. The interfaith is recruiting cleanup volunteers. and will soon offer case management to affected families.
The recent spate of wet weather has hindered the cleanup process.
“We expect to get more calls once the weather clears up a bit,” explained Duren Williams, MCIRC’s volunteer coordinator. But that does not mean the group’s member churches haven’t been out cleaning up.
The community has united, Williams added, and most people appear to be emotionally taking the disaster in stride.
“People have done a tremendous job of helping each other so far,” said Williams. “Neighbors are coming to the aid of their neighbors and getting out there and working. But there is a lot that still needs to be done.”
The biggest needs right now for the counties include cleanup crews, food, building supplies and money. Donations are being received and managed by Adventist Disaster Services at a warehouse in Colquitt. Williams noted that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance also just sent in a donation to get the local interfaith team on its feet.
Womack explained that because the area is very rural, many farmers were affected. “Before farmers can do anything in their field, they have to clean up the debris,” he said.
MCIRC will focus on those who usually end up overlooked after a disaster, added Womack, who also pastors Bellview Freewill Baptist Church. “The biggest needs will really be financial ones. We’ll be dealing more with folks who have fallen through the cracks – those were not insured or who were underinsured. Some will need a little more help to get back on their feet.”
The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church is also helping form an interfaith group in Wayne County so that communities like Screven get recovery assistance. The Georgia chapter of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (GAVOAD) is also working closely with responding organizations.
As rain continues this week in the state, disaster responders continue to watch for possible flooding this weekend around southern Georgia.
Posted April 1, 2005 3:17 PM
