Emergency manager magazine, No. 1 (Spring 2000)

From the Director

Honorab~B~r"" s G~ry~~<>nf\foll
Public'Z~"lifdo<

New Millennium Presents New Challenges

Bu<>W~ is />oJf)h(;Alfaif"sCOordlna(or
/.MtrMWia Cwn/Malw
JeffJoll<lts
c,,,,_.111,,..,,rs,,n,,;u.!i

PHCNE 1(600t-TRY.QOMA
(4()()\m.71)()() FAXj404)635-7206

.\1itigationand ri<kred11c1ioni,unly"'eff.-ctivcru;thcpa1tncr.;hip1ha1"c canforgewithourcitize n
Since-rely
~

Under the Dome
Search and Rescue Dog Rules Win Legislative Approval
The C.kneral A<scmhly al<11 gave it' apprnval to a hill, <p<m><clTe<l b~ Rcprosc11lativc Cunis Jenkins which will pmvid" a <lale incnmc la~ nc<l1t of up 10 $500 for \ilXp;l)'er; who have rt:ccivcll 1foao!cr ussistanceduringchetaxableyear

Exceptional EMAs
Jad:: KmkeeL Dir.cc. cor of th<". Fayeue Co~ncy Department of Fm. ~rxl Ernerg~ncy Service;, was namOO 1999 Fire Chi el ol the Year bl' Fin Chief magazine. Chief Krnkccl rccci,cd the aw:ud Augusc29.l999,atthcErcRcscuclutcrnationJJ!999 Cunfere11ce in Kam;a, City. Mi"uuri

(hid' Krnkccl's kaJcr>hip. the Fayette

County Dcpaitmcm of Fire and Emergency Services

grew from a

departmenc into a

nationally orgauiatiuci

emergen<:y "'""'""' the Fire Sen-ice,

hmergency

aml Emergt'11cy

Mm1agcrnenl Age1-.;y. It CM"' boil.'b IOI cmn:r am] 6(1

resenememt>e"

/1MADHw:torlHt11W.llfcC"".,./J(lfft) u4r.otv1ataf".,.,tti.Can(rl'lr<Cllhlf

fircfighkrs

and

Emergency Medical Teamp-:rsonnel. lu;1tklirion. 1hc

depanment wa> lhe firM in the 'tale lD cenify career

firdii;htns lhroui.;h the :"fational Prnfc,,,wnal

Ouatifirntjon System. Rcrently. the Faycne County

Depaitlll<:llt of i'irc Jnd Emergency t:>en"e.s also was

recognizeJ hy !he ~e<kr.il ~.il1ergenc} ~fanagemenl

Agenocy lOrex<mpla1')' pracl1oces

h'" Chief Kraked

mme than 2 _~ lears of

Sheriff John cary Bittick Named Georgia
Sheriffs' Association,Ptesident..
s ?;::,':c:~~~;;;;;,\;~::~~~~~=,:[!:::~:~~;~i~:;;~:~:;::

C'.wtgia Sheriff:;.' AS$OO\atiOJI in AU~\l~t, A~:i; E~tah!i~lw:d ifl f.957, Ille Deo~ffi Sheriffs

J)t'C>ident. he sc rWtM tl1c Ptilnacy !;P<)kUpC(':;Qil foE .~fu.tiol:1 pl'o11IDtn and improw~ law c-ufor,'t':lllent

the A..... ~imi<>n . l-l~<>J='~ n~all ineo:tingr. ~ in (k..irgii;, 1rJi11s and ~<lllc,al~~ hfftCets: allil l~ a11

' and appoi nw c1U111111~ !nenh:l~:

aetfi.>c vci~e .il1 lhe Uwrgia GCotraJ As1d11Wy on

"fl!~"~~!~~: ~u:fa1~i:~;~~~~~~:~ :;;;~jt'1:~~ ~:~a~~~~e~~~,1~1:1:~ ~~

the lh irJ ~11NaLion in hi>1-fanrily l<J hold thi~offi~; _ )ti'f and eoq-ipri~ I.~'.! ,M1miffs ~r1ll n~1tc $Uil 4:i000

R" ;_, m'p<lmibk ti.,- 67; pt.-r<mmd arl<l >ITT ~ll11nuill' '. iicti\e hQUof,u%inembeis,

-J,lsrl Jdu(;.k

budget of $2,l rni:!liM_:n.:'.:'~i~~n,, :>~fff~,:i ~.:; 0 ~

GEMA 'Goes for the Gold' Through CALEA Accreditation
Emergency Manager

Severe Weather Ushers

In New Year

RyH11.:,; 11\."i.o.;

P11/1ilrA!f.iinC.J1mli1w11or
(li>e 11...,~Cll!l\Jl <11Ti,~l
and !'"'""'It<" 1,f Y::!K
I lull<"d ""YO!IC lnro a false

..en~e ot ><:curil)', 1h~1 lnn{!lmr

qu ...:~ l y"rni< h,.,JW!!h!hebiuising

,.,n.,. 011~1 of a

of ~cvcrc

wcJlhc1 <'Hml> thm hlmmercd

the nurth"m 1hird ot (ieof}!ia.

i ndudin~ rneuo A11l11ta. am!

"rnlhwe~r Gc ori;ia du 11ng the fir.1L ~i~ week> 11f thll n~w yeor.

The one 1wu punch of p.:iroly1.ini' re~ ,11.....,, lir-;t hil on

the y,;;:cl;;cudol Janta.11} 2'.:. lcr

andwowfun:c;:i.,1 t<lrihep~.,.10m

dJ} had faik<l 1umu1cri111i1..c,a> temp cralun" in (;corp.la hov ...,-.,,d abo,cfro c1ill g.whik- 1Jie <lcy,

p11in 1droppcdbelo.,.,l2dc~cs.

Uul lc mfl"r:ll11n:o. pl111rn11;:1~J lht-

follo,.ing da~. a1kl ky

pre..:ii>i1ntionn>J\cJ.,uee1s,tre"

lnn b-.a nd jX"wcrl im.:.,, 1hrowing "t l e~~t one.third uf the 1rn1c inln

d1 ~"" 011ce
hO\\'C\CI'.

1>.3~ llOI enough. u< Mot~r X3turc

~wged n Tqlt'at perlon11.1nc.- un

lh<' fo!!owin;:: Super JJ""I Wcde nd. Althoush 1h,11 "'~""'~end

bq::iu \Ulh a .!7 wh.Jd pikup on l :!tJ on Ilk ,.._i~., u( dnwmown A\IJntJ in the W'C h<lln< (lf s~iurda; momm~ 1h, icy cu11dli,on' diss 1pltcJ h~ !he S1111J.i. JJlcm1K111 kic~ofl
A lnl:il of 51 co1111Ucl wcr.: mduJcJ in lb<.' rrc,11.kn1ial dis~ster Jedarntion "h1.:h C!l\<.'1~'1 only puhlk: <1s~1<rnncc (P1\) for th~ liK:UI fl\rf l\llltl"llS Im h) tht ~o~t ot dchn, dt.mmcc Jtld en1.:rgcncy pro1c.;1i\c

lornaJ" '"a~"" rn<o;on11.hik arr;~c<l c.tr1y and hrutally iu

M>uth.,.,c< I G~,,.~i;1 on Vaknune's

lJ<1y. A xcrie~ of rh ~l.'' tu111;,<l"''' "'~re rco;po11Sibk for Cll.IC'-''"'

dama,Ft und !o.\ uf Irk on

Colqum. l.lc.::.11ur. \rr<1dy.

\1iThd!. Ti fl .md Tum<'r countic< At k.t~I 1.~0() ,rmc.

[J('r~onud

and

numerous

\'Olunt<:CTJ!(endcSwl't."lnn>lved

in1hed1<asl<'Jl'""TK"'!.<.'. TJ.., dc:...l...-~11on, for !Ix in; '!Orm and
'"ll'>cquem l<;>madOo.'s "'"'" th~ 15th ~nd IN.h ,Ul'h l'rc11dcmi~l

orJcr<N ueds inccl91-11

Tornadoes Batter Southwest Georgia
By Ri.~: Weiss Puh/11: A/fmr.< CoordmtllOr

V iolent tornadoes

roart'd

through

'IQUthwcsi GenTgia

ju'1hctorc11mltughtFchruary 13

andinthc,,arl> momiRhOur><nf

Fehriinry 14. lca~int 21 pc:opk

dcr.d. more than 100 llJll!'Cd. am.I

scores of hornes and busino:'"'"

dan13.i~d or de~tmy~-d. Tl1e cHy

of Camilla ar11!surroundingarea<

in M1lChcl! County 'ul1i.:1cd the

brun101lhe<lamagc.hu1Colquin.

Do;:arur. Gr.Wy. Tift and Turn<.'!

counties al"' were bard h11. All

~ix 001.mli..,,. WCI\' incloo..d in a

Presulenuald1o;a.,1crdeclaratmn

bwcdhy Prc, identC!mton attht:

n:<jUCSI of Go\crnur Roy I::

Barnes. wlio Jedarcd a ~talc of

em"'l!~ncy for the :lll:'a within

h(IUr:;aflerthcmmm<ir uck.

"Thi' was a de1'a~1anng

_;form. in term~ urbolh loo;s of life

and property durnage." '"id

CA'Oqtia Emergency Managem.:nl

Agency {GF.MA) DtrIOr Gm~

W. McC.onndl, "JI "o.hffi c1.1lt. il

0011mp~ib!e.lu fo1Jyrecover

from ....)111Ctlunglikellus"

Accordini:; to t h~ .-.a1ional

\VeJ 1h ~r S e rvi~~ Of!ke in Thll:oh11-'>..oc. Aonda. 1he ~vcre we:11hcrt..-ganwdevclopl111con tbee,'cningofFebnrnryU.and 50,;e\~.,.ea1hc1 warnin11,werc is..<1ucd m~r the- neu severn l houri;. Atowluftlll'CC rnm~doc.5 anually forrncd o~er tht: \OlllhV.'CSt Georgia area. f"'O of wlu chtoucbcddnwn.
The s1orm that sp:iw11cd the Cam11la 1ornadooogina1cJiutbc Flonda panh~mJk urumid 8c.J5 p.m. h wea.ken cd as it ~n "~~-x! Lake Seminole, but reg.,netl :.IITn~th Bl it mo1Wnort~v.11Jtl acruS Sermuok County, bf:,curning tom aJ1caround J l:.JO p.m. uear BTM"h~ilk. Gcurgla. I! pa~:;.:<.I ju~1 -<u th of Camilla before dis>1patm around midnight T hi<i lomado v.;u clas~ified ..., F3 on the ruJlla Scak
A SIX<Jnd ~upcrccU de1-ctorcd
in we.1em Scminvk County a l appn;,.imatelyll. Wp. m. Nearly ,., 1ntcose a~ its older sister. it fo11unatd)' never touched 1he i;mund

tk\eloped m s~m1m>le Crn.mly around midnight. and roared :il:ro"DernturCounlyinLolrrady Coumy,whcrcildcvelopedintoa tom~do about 10 mi\e, north of

:~~jt~;~;s a~~ l~~~il~~"crn~~~;
prmni,.,.,J fedcrnl aid am] encouraged disaster victims to register for disa~ter a."istar.ce "' quicklyaspos.>ible
"We are going to make sure t.hat ever} resource of the federal govemment 1ha1 can appropriatclybc:brouhthcrcin helping thi' ~<Jmmunily nx:ovcr
~~:;, helf;~:: t~~i~l fo~~ re1~1~~~

from main roads Entire neighb('lrhoodswerele,-elle<L;md rescuers pro~d the rubble searching for the ~ictims they
hopcdtheywouldnotfind "I've watched the impact of
tornadoes ontdcvisionforyears and thought to myself. that'> terrible: 'aid Milcl1cll Counl} Emcrgcncyi\fanagernentDirector Ann Lamb. "1Jutyoudon'1rea!ile how b~d it is 11ntil ir hits home andnowllookattomadoesina whole new way'
Within days of the eent, Unit~d Srntc> Vice President Al Gore visited the disaster area to ~iew the darm1ge firsthand. After luuring lhc area b~ air, the Vice

Joining Come in '"'v"yinglhe

dJmagr were Governor Roy E

Barnes. l'irs1 Lady Mari e Barnes

United States Senator M.u

Cleland

Unitcll States

Congrc;sman Sanford Bi>hop,

Stale Representative A. Richard

Roy11I. UEMA Director Ual')' W

McCunndl, 17EMA Director

Jame,s Lee Witt and SmJll

RusineS< Admi11i,tration (SRA)

AdministrntorAidaAlvarez

United States Senator Paul

Coverdell and State Senator

Hamid Ragan along with

Licutcnam Governor Mark Taylor

also m~de visics to the dis.aster

With the issuance of a Pre:;identialdis:1ster d eclar<11.ion coering both pub!k assistance IPA) and indi>idual assistance (LI\). a wide range of benefits becameavailable1oresidcntsand busincs>esintllc:affcctcdarcasas well as local governments Di~a~ter program' include temporary housing, di'a.'kr unemployment,lowintercstloans for the repair o~ replacement of stonndamaged property and grnntsforscriousneed:snolrnct byotherprog:nuns.Todate.atotal of$L67R million in low imcrcM loausandgrantshasbccnpaid

1ollftti: tdc~g is1raurn1 nurnocr wu" C>tablishe<J shonly afttt~decfor.iriimwiu.1..sued.aix! a Disasler Ra.~""CI)' Omier (DRCJ was opened in Cannlla to pro~ille as5istaocc toappli~;ub. Bythe 1ime ucloscd M:uthl7.mcr700pcorli: h.:id1wtcd!hc DRC.a11d nKU than 6UOin<h1iduallinnd1amili"' had appl frU for di1as1cr recowry asSISGlllCC, mduding di!>ll;ter ~inf! ,indivi!lualfami!ygran!'
and SBA loan 11K: dcldlillt'. 10 sppl)' for SDA
(\.'()llOffiLClllJUl}'loan.1,Ko1"Cmber IS.&v11omic inj ury d1sastcrloans an: designM to prmilk working cariwl Ll)bu>incs~.md sm al l agricuhurnl cooptmu1c m contiguou sl.\)Unticstuhi:lpc>.1v.:r opc"raringe.1f"n.-..:Safte1 adi~'\Sler.
Thiny-onc f;umlics. lefl l'lomc~b)' t~ Sl'~Cl'C ,.'C'<llher, ll't.'l'C tempimuily housi:<J 111 tn1vel Lr.liters or mobik homt:!i. The first m~nufacmred hoosmg uni t "''!Ii connected o n 1he afternoon of f't'bruaryl8.ju11fourdaysafterlhc
tomad<ici-hii. 'This wa_ a !'CCt1rd," W<J
Mc-Cooncll. "Jnpre~ioosdiS38!m ir ha,takm weeks.rathc1lltanda)'S, tocvnnl'tithefi,..l um1 ."
Local go.emmcnl' "''Ihm nll the aff.:ctcd cnunlleS, CACCpl Decalur aod Turner. are di~bk to rccc11c financi~l "'"'~am:e for debris d..:an-up and cmo:rgen<.:y prot<%'.:ti\'I" 1nea~un:s.
Althou):h c;eorgia's real "tomadu.;casoo" isMarchdTI!uVi Mny, the Valentine'' 0.1y M<ll'l11> unda'scorrolhcfactthittomadoe' can llf.'CW'a! any time of1he y"81'. lrorucall~ . the tunmdocs ~truck one wee k h!!for..: the annunl Sc,u e \\ka!her Awurent..."l.'i Wuk. \\'hith
ino::lwb a Sl.ltc"1(k tornado dnll.

What are Tomrdoes7

A~i11~~yf0Ulbllg.~c,falr~~fmma

.~~ 10 ~'Jl"1UJJ1.T~1n o. QRC of'!Wlun;'~ lllO$I

ft~tivt t0f'cclt_ EM-ti ~~; apPfOXhnlli_d)I BOO iom11docs an:

n:p.m.i:dldtbe~Sl>H!!>..'Tbeyarw~lorl!Pl"t"~n!alely80

dtidhr and more dlaa 1Joo l~'-

rom~r, ll}e ~wDe(l from. the .Wr.11:r i:d~a!le4 : itt a

~1[1fl.Til~dtvdorlll""llnU.1110i'$i.\8?irt!ld~()f

'*91wafd..movislg "{)}cl ftoDI~ Often ~rig 11111'<' bail anJ suong

,-iadsTif;Uu~.T~in-lho<;a.tnttt'llfl(f.eorfy6prini

-;:.~.--~~:u::.u~o:::~~~::m:~::::~

klnlidilc1~~Jtll1Jis.typeof111<tlllbetpauem fnCecqNL.tornldon

~oeaw;;tl)y~atmylilljll,of)'Cll'.

-LisoJ(IMJ;

GEMA Completes Tornado Video

Ji_~.~ M~l&f~I AJelle! .;(OEMA) ~
_... _. ~-~.cw&U**ttleaitcaJ1C11.wcko{lf!1tJn\lldo

~ "Totaad.n:-N'1111d$ ..~,~ t1w1R-Jmnute\ideo~mc

=.t:n~~~~"~=.f==~

illdi.~On'IJ(N.io~1or~Adredtk;etbetUt.otai.hOI' ~IUI'~

Sc,. ~win :be diStrihUl:cd w loci! ~ency manAg.emcnt

dii10ta. tt~~

Wcubct O:xd'enlllOt 1tt May and

prlitllianbftlla1nlodefur~di.llritRJlWI

. '

,.,

BM:z.w;,u,

FUJITA WIND DAMAGE SCALE

NO WINO S PEE D F--0 Upto12 mph F 1 73mpt1 112mph F 2 11lmph 151mpt1 F 3 158 mph 206 mph F4 207mpt1 26C 'llP~ FS 261 mph 318mph

DAMAGE
Lgh!(c~1mneydmB'JO f1tebJ';lnc~brokM)
Moderme/mcl!/leh~spus/ledoff foundatronorov~rflirned)
C011Slder1blelmob1/ollomes dl!lllo~slrml rrnes uprool'ed1
Se~ero (roofs snd waits !om down trainsov.,fumedc 1i thrown)
Oe'lastabng (we/l-conslrucled walls le~~kld'i
lncredlbl (hi;>mcshfl<'doflfoundal<on 1nd~"ICdcons1dero1blrdJSIMC! ~llfos lllrown ma" lfl1m 100 ymls/

January Ice Storms Grip North Georgia
8rB11z:. ll'i:i.r.> l'u/l/irAjfair:<Cnmdinmar

B ;oo.;lr.-lo-back ic.:stonns slnppcdasmmglehold 0'1 Iii<: llOflhem 1hml of <Xorgi11 in Jlllluary, sen.Ji~ CdCT> ;md ll"\ll'h ,Jiding imo iunrdt:1.1.b. J 11dic!andca.:h other: ~napping lKe limbs a11d Sl'Wring pow...Tli11cs::pl unillhllndrcdsof 1hou~1nd~ ol Georgian~ into dJrl.n.: ...,:am3twen~au,ing;oni.:;
concern nlxlllt the fa1c ot Super Bowl XXXIV
Ha~i!IJ! dodged 1be hullel nf a threa1cned hiday ~oo,,.rn>rm "''id~nl' of mirth Cn:urgia were bn:ath L11 gasi..hof1chelwhe nthc fiNI nf lhc I"'" , umm hi t lal<J Sa1UrtlJy, fonuary22
l'rce1ing rain <tancd to fall
un<I ice ho:jlil!l l" form arouOO midniit:ht. B} fl:OO a.m. Sunday, the Georgia Emergency Mana2emem Ageoc),.S {GEMA) State Opmtiuns Center (SOC) had Ileen p.artially acli~ai<:d :J.~ repons ol clowned U limbs. <;e~lt.:rcd f>l'"'cr nulal!"' aml ic~ ro.:td~ t>c11an 10 rnounL
f'e,1rly ~ Depanm"nt nf Trnn"JlOnAUOn [IXlT) ~r;;cmnc:l anJ o~er J 50 truch wue J.plo).:dcarlySunda} rnkcep s1aicroads.~ways,b<1d:;esand (l\"C'f'~ssi:s open and pa.'<uhle \h1>.1of1hc: n:que,L~ cumin!': iuto The S(X." we"' for Ceor!':i~ fnr.,,lry Cummi>sion and
'p.mrueni ot Com:ctio m chain s~w ere"" tn elem d.. hri; iTnm roa.Jy,a:s
More than one doun American /led Cross shelters

w"re open"d throughout the affo::1.,d ar'"a. although ~helter
pnpulatmn,...,n1;,i1oedlow
Power outoges were clearly 1 hen10S 1difficultconscque~of thewJDter,,.e.olher A1onepoin1. a11 c~1una1cd 500.0ClO cusionicrs of Gco'!!t3. Power Compnny and vdriuus bkunc Mcrnlx:t1ohip Corporations (hMCs) "ere "nhout po..lWCr. ln l'l.llll~ an:.i~. 1.hc light~ "'m;1ined nu! until lut~ in thewefk.
Th.::rc wa, no light at the end of the tu nnel . however, as H new w inter sto1111 W<trDIDH wa lSSitcd
Fri day,January28.1>.iththc'1hrca1 of sleet and frecr mi: rnm. l:nlen>ivc icin~ in the ~arly mornin~ hours Df S~tUrdly r"sultect 10 d111en' of lr~ffi~ a;;cident~. i11du<lin11 ~ 47-vchidc pile-up on 1-'.:'U near dov.nwwn Allnnta. Howe~w. a >li11h1 Sunda} warming trend eased the '~mlcr ""c.allx:.-wodn1011~
~Ill wa.~ some of the worst se,en: wrnte.- "eathcr ,,... ... lla~c '~" ~incc the 11,11}3 bhu.ud.
w SJ.id Cii.\1A l>tret.:lt'T G.l.T)'
McConnell The f'Te<;1denual di.~aster
decl:ir:mDnwas~~dfoUov.ing tli.: initial ~lorrn. which caused ~n .::stirnatcd.s-tlinull1onmd:tmngeo in the uffcr1,;d co1mu~s. The
declaration .-ovcrcd publu; a" i;tarx:e !l'A1 only. utdudin~ th~ c<1"l ol <k:bri~ clcar.incc lllld emergency prok~li"c rnea.-urc> experienced hy ,tale ~~~ncic~. Ir.cal govemmelll~ nnd EMCs.

Ilic 5 [ COUllllC> CO\'Cred h) lh<: PresidemiOl l disaster dixldfllllon mclu~c llan~' Banuw. Uanow. llmt.,. CarrLJll, t'a ioosa. Chntioog,,, Cherokee. CIJrk.-. Cobb. Daw....,n. DeKalb, llnu,da>. Elt..::rt. hmmn. Ho~J. Foriiyth. Frunklin, r:ulton <011~. Gordon. Gm.ric. Gwmncu. H3N:f'>hmn. 1l:oll. H:m;Json. lbrt.

Ilenry, JJd,jOO. J&.\p<' r. Jone,, [.iillldr. Lumpk in

~loo~. Ne....1uJ1 , Ocooo;oc, Oglc1hDtpe. Pauldi11g

Picktm. Pike. RJ bun. Rvd.dalc. Sp3ldin~. Stcph""'

T~liaferrn , IJnion. L:p~n. Walker. Wnlton. Whne am.I

Wil~"'



Fn:,llm:, 1aged in--0utheas1G~"Tiuin ford1 alter a conlrulkd. bun1 hiil'l<l into nrou11ull.1hlc !lwues. t'u~!m:-d b) high "ind' a11J !he '-1.'\Cn: Jrou~I C<lfl<hlmn> 1h~I have plngL>M "mth ("n;Of'l,'ll since \iu:r 1991!, the><e i;,...,_, ~nu""d cvocuauon,, m..i<l cl~ing' ~nd the Jc~tn11.1ion Mtho11'<1m!'"f(1~r1:.;bcforetlle} wcrcrnntai11ed .\. !i..-c,! lire tha1 ~w.n ~d \1arl."h 2. ;n "'u!lio.;1 11 lol!.nde< ('nun1~ 'l'rcad co the m:arh) MuJ !>\\Olnlp 1g:n1ting l""'l in the bog ~al. m.1;k ni r.nllall~ .;nrbo.>ni;ed \cg<'t.1b!e rnalln, ('fO''idc~ an c\ldlc11t b'l-.C for 1he fil'f'. e11ahling them t<.> ~moh. ~!111' 1111"r u11J burn for Til<.111lh~ The lire bl:w.:J througl> 1.190 Ji:rc\ ut ~walllrl..ilkl. r lumc' \ huouug as l>1gh ;>!> 70 kel. 1>11<' (0 !ludo. '1110kc an<l fog. 1he Der;mm~"' or Tr;i,m1x.>na11on '"-''"d a 4-rnik: ,~-.;uo11 of rm..,rs1~1.:- 75 th<' nKuriu1i; of Thur..Jay.Mm:h9.anJa'.!4-milc-.e.:1iu11tli..:1nomi11g ot l mla} \1w\h lO.p0<;tpon ing5<'hoolamlln.i.1tuh11g ('<.1mrnul<'r.. ll1e fi~ ,..:1:; fllll}Cntuiuetl M,tl\:b I L ahl>ough n ~'Onlmoc<I lu> moldcr. Bci;inni n)I M.11\h 4. two 1'.r~ fire, de., lmycJ

c.. more thnn IHJIMl Ji;rc, m Charlton unt.,.. TIX" fil't

fire dn1111C<I twu h<H11c' nl St. (jeriri:c Jflcr it rnnrcd

through a ,...,.,&n1i:d arc.1. T\\cOl}fivc h<>m<' were

n'XU;oled,IK11.\..:w.ooinjmies\\CIC1Cported

Ouc1ulug:h.,.indalllllow~l;lllehumidit},thc

se,111>d ('harltun Conmy fi"' ~p 1ead quickly,

ind11 cralmj,\ !.lQJocreoflnnd pc-rh1,ur. hurhum(;S

W<'rt'C\.icHalcti.hhoui;;h1~sidem'1"'n::.ublctorerum

that n1)!hL.111J 1-Ughwa~ 121 wascloseJtv,,,n~duo; to

fog ~nd Sll'<J~<'

lbc Gen~iu Fun:>lty C{llllnll,SIM Md a"'"uni;

r,,..., ap.cnci~~ controlled the

u,ing fire lin" lrcn..:hc,,

anJ w&cr drop~ fmm hdico p1c1 s. fh<'>tl fire; w~re

l"uU:r<.:nmaun:dh)Sun<lJv.Man:h 12

Go\ernor Ru)' E. B~rn"' 1,,ucd J SUie ul

emcri;c11<.:yrn(1'Jrh<m,C'!inchandl.o"'ml.'>COU!l!I<:>

to'''"~! 111 rc,p<m""' 1Lnd re<:n \' er) l..:l1'1tic1 m 1he rcrnoo~l 1>fburn1 timber.

\,of March t5, Georgia ,unc1.:J 4.06.l foe.

,\rrn1\imatdy Jl,36(1 ""'"' hae ~n Jam~"d or

dc''!n>)'-~ I by fore~! flf'C, in Gt:<~1..1,



2000 Governor's Severe
Weather Conference
8fJQll/ta UMkr C~Co-Chalr

P '. ~ n1is"'<'lllll'!der Wot)' for lhe 2000 lio\cmor's Snen
\\'ca!hn- Confm:nce. "hlch .,.;n
bcMayl-J.2000,atltrkl")U bl.1nd COC1crit100 Ccrucr oo Jdt)Ub!and.Cicorg1Lllusycar's ~mt.~.....~ Ct'3ll~ for a
'cw MJklllliwn,~~tbc
ti>uelf.ico:db). ltlepuhlicsafdy COl'Mlllllll) 11>1\en preparing for andm1Jl(lndln11.oicva-e"~ ...
Jk.o.:...,...,;a11r~uf,..,.,..;n::
v.eathef' thre<Utfl r.ecq;ia.. it I~ nece ssary fOI" emergency mQnpsement per!iilnnel nnd fi!!\t re$p(lnders 1Q be knowledgeable 1.ho1.1t 1he mo~t currem prcpucdncn and respome IT!fa.~urt In Ql'der to ensure the prolectKla Qf life and property
Sl!'1'19CIO.~idnitialdil.ann
deebr.lt>OftSha~bte n 1$Slled for llbul11:'-'f!C"~count.e1ofor a ....0y of hannls. mcludq lloodJ IOmaliorJ,bliu.ardsarid
~ ~at. Go...l'mlr Ro) E ~ 11 .s4ras paruciJ)3ll!S Oft the "f'l'"'"I day of lhe COftkrence. .\ recep1ion ..,;11 immediately rollo"' tM
C->1nemn,..~~.\l:so.~rcd
Air For<;e Bn1 Utt'! Jacl Ke!l). dlm:1or or th: NanQ!W \\'c:!dltc Sc:n1ce, bu been nvited. kl dcliverthc:kc~~addn:ssattlle
hiocha;m\11.y~ Morethan400 public ~fcl)
Qfticcrs.cducalcn.mctcorologtsa volwitce~ 1L11d elected official~ llrc c~peclcd to attend 13 wvrksllOpS. Topic~ inc lude :

Sc:-a-e\l.uthtrM~IO(D'
IOI LCSSQllS Lul'Md Thrtt
Swrict- Flood. Tornado aM
~ae A.1xhftl~nu anJ Ncah Aucumcnb n111
Fin4Stcpi luRU\ln'), Hcw.111 \.lcctShurt-Tenn..00
Lona-Tenn li~ill 'ccds. Hunu::ane Courdiiation
lnuutaleandlntrntme . The ~~11111" nuainc:u and
foedinaihtMasscs. Where fO Find /I Htlpmg
Hnnd:MutlllllAidandOlher Resourcu;nnd Georaia'New!icnoolSnfet} Proaram(wi!laddrw!.C.,.rre weaihef' l~~ueo; !n Khool1)
HNd a..:wmmodat1om are auilaMe al tho! follm<l'J localions J11k)'ll l1111 CSOOt 7J~ J().46 or t9l216J~-~~31, Ccwfon lnn(912/63S-2211.0ayslmand Sulcs !9121 6J~-9S()O and the Ramada Inn 1S001 IJ~.:mo or (9121 63~-21 ! l '-"bl:ll mahn(; re$11f\-allons,pleaseindic.ie1lu.1 yoo ~ ancndini:; the Q:i\lcmor't Wcrc 'i'~lhcr Confermcc
fllt'ttg'5tnuonfee1sSi25 For -'4<11.-ina' 1nfonn~110f\ ~'"" tho r.,\lemor's Se~crll \\eatt.tt ('onltrtl'ce. J!leaM u1n111e1Jonn&\l.1-lc1orCir..,;,.
S211:uch.con111renceco-clwn..11 f4().&J 6H-7000 or tnil-frtt in ~u;all-SOO-TRV-GEMA

Governor Proclaims 'Severe Weather Awareness Week 2000'

I naucffoniomakcallGcorginnsfolly11w"re of the serwus threaLs to hfe and propert~ cau,ed by ><;Wr;; wrnthcr. Govcmor Roy E Ram"s 'igncd a pmdamation Tuc,Jay, January 18, officially de,ignating the week of tebruary 21-25. 2000. '" "Severe Wemher Awaru1t:>s Wed.. -severe \Veather Awarenes; Week 200J" i' de>igned to educale fie0>rg:ian' a.hmtl "tlCty preparednessandrc>ponsepmcedurcsforavarietyof >evere weather even!' sud as lighlnillf 1hundersltmm, tlood>, flash tlood.1. hail s!orms, 1omadocs and hurrican~s. The Georgia EmcrgenQ Mauagcmc'nt Agency (GEMA) am! the National Weather Service promote &vere Wc.athn Awar..::ncss
Week ~",';~~ll~h~uring th~ lasl~~u~l"'~:~o~~l~~~;c~
at le:1st 20~ people m
to

Altlwstal<Cll{JlllJJ!o11Npnnh1Hli<lo.Jp/o~..,./"'5tt0lf,ll'lllP
11:11'1}0..,..ll'.lfcCnnoll.OirecUJr,941.4;8o'""""'ll(ffC.B,,_;(H<"' '"""/Colt><tti1;,,1"''r-1-.~~1ol~;C
-.--eo.ag-c-...,,-..oti::n111..1<flliodp>.~
::,:.;=:~':!':!;":~~=:=
~~g:~~:E!is

DISASTER

TOTAl PA"IO

TroplCidStormAlbena

H~ mcaneOpal

The Evacuation and Shelter Task Force Formed; Issues Recommendations
T:~:::;~;;~ ''~~~er:i~~;~~;~ff:t.~~:~!l!~~~~
!lurric~ne llugQ forced 17.'i,001 re.<ident< l'mm their home>. MorelhanffiJl(XJ\'.erecvacuateda;;aresult of Hurrican~~ Bath a and Fran in l 996_ However, the latest aml largc>!cvacuation dfon in Georgia was in rcspon:;c. to the 1hrca1 of Hurricane rloyd in Scptcmbcrl999.Scvcntypcrccmofcoastalre'.l..idenh, or 350J))'.) people. fled inland to c""apc ihc storm Public shelters from DouJ!las to Vidalia were fille<l

GEMA Teaches Schools to Recover Weapons

8yKarcnFro11tli11 Sum.Vh'"'/Su/f:tvCovnlinulor

V~=u~::~; .---:==,-.,...,.--, school age clnhJn."11isunt hcrisc. per,ad rn iiurbanand rura l c la"nKnm i n publir Hn d pri ,111c
schools. Accord ing to 1hc Uniled Stale~ De partment of Educati on, appro~imme-ly 100.000 to250,000guru; arem.1ugh1 into schools each day in the llnit.:d Slate~. Yet. onl} 6.000 i;1udei11s were c~pelled ttom school fnr gun possession in 1998. Clearly.most gun thal~"O......, u1Hl schoolsarene\'Cr diswveredorreco\'ered.
'!he Groq:ia Emergency Managcmcnl Agency (GEMA) works 10 help C'ducawrs and law cnfcITT:crucnt ix: rsormc l recognize the cl'laractcrislieJ eomfTK!n l>'BS!'":ialcd with a pe nmncarryingawcapcJn through its "Vis ua l Scrcemng in the Schoo l Sett ing" school S3fety cla.~s. Thi s one-hour training provides an on:1vitwurt hcschU())wca pons s1a tu1c:instructshow

1 n~po1Lhc"physu:alcuci;"as~i:uedw1thpedestrian

g11n,io!ators:anddeseribeswhai1odoifawcaponis

'rotted.

Smce1.hecour:sewa.o;in1rod11cedla.stycar,"Visual Scn.~ning in the School Sct1in1f ha,. b\.-<:umconcof GF \.1 A'~ m<" l popula r classes a1oo ng education and lnw enforcement officers. The class i ~ taug ht lipprox imatcly once a week nl the rc-quc>! of k..:~I

co mmunities and 1ypicnlly anrac1< 50 200

pamcipants.

~our schools haw re-ported reco\cnni; weapo<1~ by usm~tccbniqucsdclnon$lmtcdinthcclno;..;.Accunl i ni,:

toooccallcr. "h wortedbtcauseo icachersponcd a

kmfe Withom tha1 prcscnuuion. mosi or us wootd nol

knu"' what to look for." Hus dnvcrs and school support per.sonnd abo haH: ~ponc..J weapons.

This course is appn"ed for POST. CMS and Fire

profess iona l credit Formoremforrruu1on. pka.,crnll !he Sc hool Safety Proje~1 ul (404) 635-7000 or

1-1100-TRY -Gl MA



CMERT Terrorist Response Team Goes Regional

ByN..Riley l<111d Afu<mgl'e Cmmt1 EMA Oirtctor

T he Columbus Metro Emerge1>ey Response "Team (CMFRT) was organized by the Culumbus <.:onso!idated Go'"emmC'lll and Muscogee Coun ty pull.lie safotyaCncics tWQ)"l:al"S ago in l'l'.,p1111>1: lo i;rowml! com: erus about p;S tblc terrorist thre.1ts in wes1 centrnl Georgi a. ln Fc\miary, CME RT touk a mrnrn rncntal step toward bcco.11i nsa tru ly reg iona l response team by fonning a rn ulu~! aid ag=mcut with Ru ssell and Lee arnn li~s in Albama. rhis JOmt QCQrs1a/:\labama iniriaave .111 make the Muscnge.: County CMERT a more elfec1ile cnunlcr-lerronstforcc m thccight-coumyareao l wcs~ ccn1r.1J licorgiu and~.,.,,, central Alabama. As pan nf the ugn:cmctll. 23 <.:M l:.IU members bccan.e deputy shmll"s of Kus-;cll Coun1y. Alabama. on Fcbrull) 11 Thr:se new llcputy shcrinS 11SS1st Sheriff fommy Boswell of Ru~cll Cou nty, Alabama. and Sheriff Jay Jones of Let Coun ty. Al abama. with responding !O and investigming bomb threats, suspicinus r;ickagcs orcxp!osi\'cdcvkcs.

CMERT ,olunlecr< arc rt\:ruilcd from the Columbus Police !Rpanment, l"olumbu' Fire Dcpanmcnt Ar.on Oivis1on, \fusco!l;c~ County Sheriffs Office, Muscogee Count)" M" r<hal'' Office, Columbus Office of F1nergcncy Management. and locnl chapters of the ATF ancl Fill. The te~m mcludes federally cert ifi ed bomb 1<:c hnic rn11'. invc> ligators. 1.0. tcclrn icians . emergency medica l specialist<, logisl ics and radioloi;ical spccfoliJt! and an mtclligcncc. media and community outreach >pt.dal1~l Team members rece1'c rost Bia.st l n\"CSl1gat10nt r; u n i n g f r o m 1 h c A T F a n d P l a n n i n B n d T<:mITTsm Cunxqucn<:e lr.unmg from !he Georgia Emeq;cncyManagemt:nlAgency(GE\lA).
(lf.MA hdp' guide CMl.:R I" policy and provides equipment through \'uinus fcdcrJ] and
acqumtmnprogrnm'

Eml'll.n<:yManap.

Community Calendar

!hi.- 22nJ Annual Clinical Confcrcoc;: oo Ou! of Husp1wl Erm:fCncy Care tCl inCon 2000 ) wil l be Ju ly IJ-16. 2000. at tt.e Om11i Kosen Hotel iu Orlando. Flnnili. ('011 lucl lhc ClmCon :!000 Rcg tslru 01
Flnmbllrncrgcocy.\kdlcint ~uum.Ja1 in11 3717 So urh C<1n>rny RoaJ Orland,i, Plon da 32 ~\2-7607 phorn: . (407)2B l-73 96or(800)766- 6.\'\ 5 En1Mil:i nfo r(fi,fccp. org

Th" 2000 Wilh am II. Sllcarcr lntcma11onal Advanccdandllas11;l, iftSuppurl(ornpcl1liutLiWillbc July 12- 13, 2000. u1 the Om1u Rosen ll otcl m Orlando. f\orid3. Conlllct the l'ornf!t:Ollon l<~i!>lr.irat:
Florida ~. mcrg('flcy Mnhw1~ l'numlauon 3717 South Con w~y Rond Orlando,Florid8 J28 12-7607 phonc:(407)281 -73%or (800 1766-6335 llmail :infor~fct:p .i>rg

O UEMA 1 0, 1 0ITiL~ Bo.\ 18055 i\tlamu.Gc-01ia303J6-0055
1-SOO-TRY.(i [f\t A
"""'"'ll~L..,.lilo!'<IA b!lp"'u.fl'l}'IXl.J><ma_..,.,,,g:t._U<