Murray receives support and aid from neighbor after storms rip through homes
Fetching Featured April 19, 2020
What does being a good neighbor mean? Is it offering a smile and a wave? Is it politeness and concern for each other? Is it offering a helping hand when the need is there? What about moving past two people on a street, and considering neighboring counties?
Gilmer County was hit somewhat hard early in the week by storms. Citizens without power, sheltering in safe zones due to concerns from tornadoes. Yet, just west of us, there wasn’t just concern, there was fear. They had more than just a scare where they sheltered and came out a bit later with some wind damage and power gone. Murray County was hit much harder with two tornadoes confirmed to have touched down.
But as these people spent part of their week after Easter picking up and trying to piece life back together, their “neighbor” saw an opportunity. Easter is about new life, in any way you celebrate it. Restoration, redemption, these became more than just themes for people of Gilmer County this week.
On April 15, 2020, a post went up on the Gilmer Sheriff’s Social Media page, a post asking for a little help to provide for our neighbor next door.
The Sheriff’s Office asked, “As our community is well aware, our neighbors in Murray County were hit hard by the tornado at the beginning of the week. We are taking donations to deliver to a few Murray County churches.”
The post listed items like cases of water, non-perishable food items, hygiene items, and diapers. Despite the virus outbreak, despite health concerns, people showed up and not only offered to take donations, but told citizens with donations to drive by and call, and they would come unload the donations from cars. Maintaining little-to-no contact for those wanting to help. This effort provided for a need, but provided safety for those helping as well.
Volunteers spent two days collecting items from cars on Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17.
It wasn’t just from Gilmer though. Citizens and volunteers from Murray, more than 250 volunteers, showed up at Bagley Middle School on Tuesday to help the community recover from two tornadoes that ripped through Murray County on Easter Sunday.
In fact, response from citizens has been so involved and overwhelming, that Gilmer is turning a small helping donations collection over two days, into over a week long effort to support those whose homes were impacted.
The Sheriff’s Office posted saying,
THANK YOU to everybody who has generously donated for the victims of the Murray Co. tornado!!
We are having such a good response, we have decided to continue accepting donations at the Gilmer County Detention Center THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY, April 24th ONLY from 7:30AM to 4:00PM, M-F. We ask that you stay in your car, call 706-635-4625 and ask for Carla or Heather. One of them will come unload your car for you. We are asking for donations of:
~Cases of water
~Non-perishable food items
~Hygiene items
~Diapers
(Due to COVID-19 concerns, clothing can not be accepted)
More and more, setbacks and issues in the recent months, from viruses, to shortages, to storms and tornadoes, people are rising up. Neighbors are coming together. Care and Concern are winning out. A new normal has dawned and people are discouraged from touching each other. No comforting hugs or sorrowful embraces can be seen. Yet, people are finding ways to step up, serve, and offer a hand to help each other stand, to reinforce each other against the trials of the day. A new normal, indeed. But a normal that is shining more and more light on humanity’s resilience.
More than 250 volunteers show up to clean up tornado destruction
Fetching Featured April 19, 2020
According to her daughter, Dina Rios, 66, was among those injured when the tornado came through this neighborhood in Murray County Sunday night.
More than 250 volunteers showed up at Bagley Middle School on Tuesday to help the community recover from two tornadoes that ripped through Murray County on Easter Sunday. More than 150 homes were impacted by Sunday’s tornadoes in Murray County. Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County said 35 homes were completely wiped out. Seven people were killed and 23 hospitalized as a result of a severe storm pattern that crossed the southeast.
“The damage assessment of was higher than we expected,” he said.
Affected homes, those with any type of issues such as missing shingles or trees toppled, were 57, homes with minor damage were 53, homes with major damage were 23 and destroyed were 35. Power remained off for a little more than 800 residents, he said, based on numbers from North Georgia EMC. It did not include numbers from Georgia Power, but Bain said the area hit did not have many Georgia Power customers and the number wouldn’t be affected too much.
The overnight April 12 storms whipped through North Georgia and the Western Carolinas
Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County.
leaving approximately 75,000 without power and seven deaths. Reports indicated that the area experienced winds of 60 mph and two tornadoes in Murray County. Crews worked all day on April 13 to clean up the damage. Northwest Georgia took the brunt of the storm and received a visit from Gov. Brian Kemp, who declared a statewide emergency.
“We came out of rescue mode into recovery this morning in full force,” he said.
He said they have started a Facebook page to help keep everyone informed.
Volunteer efforts
Gale Buckner, second from left, talks to volunteers at Bagley Middle School.
Bain put out the word that volunteers should register at Bagley Middle School and the community did not hesitate.
Volunteers showed up at Bagley Middle School to register starting at 8 a.m. By Tuesday afternoon, the smell of barbeque from a food truck drifted through the air, mingling with the smell fo cut wood. The line to register was backed down a hallway, leading into the cafeteria where they registered and supplies were doled out. Cases of water were stacked on tables and several tables held food — sandwiches, fruit, and cupcakes..
“The outpouring has been unbelievable,” he said, adding that they had to start turning away
Volunteers bring in cases of water to give to volunteers and victims of Sunday’s tornadoes.
some volunteers.
Gale Buckner, who is in charge of the volunteer efforts said there will be plenty of work for more than a week. The issue was safety.
“We’ve had a wonderful turnout, we just had too many people inside the most impacted area,” she said.
Buckner estimated more than 250 volunteers have come through the doors. “At least,” she emphasized.
She said volunteers will be needed the rest of the week and although they hope to have the area cleaned by Friday, the work won’t stop.
“We have so many without homes who need help with transportation, medication, medical expenses, funeral expenses,” she said.
One of their biggest needs at the moment is laundering services or volunteers.
More than 250 people showed up to help their friends and neighbors clean up after two tornadoes tore through Murray County.
“So many people have pulled their clothes out of the mud and they need to wash them,” she said.
What is needed
Gloves (leather and cloth)
Large garbage bags
Cleaning supplies
Water
Non-perishable snacks
Clothing donations can be made to Eton Baptist Church and Faith Worship Center, which are hosting clothes closets.
Toiletries can be donated to Rockbridge Church on Hwy. 76 and First Baptist Church of Chatsworth.
The Salvation Army is also helping with donations collections.
Buckner added donations can be brought to Bagley Middle School and they will pick up donated items.
Bain said they are also in the process of starting a fund for people to make monetary donations to in order to provide financial assistance to those impacted by the storms.