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<