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Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2008 > May > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTornado brings out the best in neighbors and community services
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One story we’ve heard little about is how residents came together when the Mother’s Day tornado hit and and the exceptional response from Clayton County’s public safety departments.
According to news reports, Clayton was hit hardest by the tornadoes, which damaged 188 homes and rendering 53 uninhabitable.
“Within the first hour, 15-20 SWAT and special operations officers went house to house trying to make sure everyone was okay and or trapped,” states Police Chief Jeff Turner. “Because those officers had police cars available to them they were able to get there within the first hour, responding from their homes.”
Stagecoach Village resident Vernita Boddie was proud of the response from county officials. “Sonna [Singleton, District 1 Commissioner] helped us figure out things we weren’t even thinking about. Folks went door to door to make sure everyone was okay. The camaraderie in the neighborhood was excellent.”
Commissioner Singleton spent two days assisting residents after the tornado hit. When she wasn’t working at the site, she was at the Emergency Command Center. “We are a strong and resourceful county. We did not have to call on the governor or wait for state assistance to handle our emergency. We took care of our citizens in crisis with our own resources and expertise,” says Singleton.
That expertise came from several Clayton County sources, including Fire and Emergency Services, the Police Department (including SWAT and Special Operations), Search and Rescue Teams (deals with structural collapse of buildings), a Clayton County warden who sent inmates to help with cleanup, Chairman Eldrin Bell and Singleton, just to name a few.
“We have an emergency operations plan in place which has been in effect for several years, and Clayton County was used as a model for the rest of the state,” says Fire Chief Alex Cohilas. “So when the tornado hit at 5:30am, we had the emergency operations center staffed and operational by 6:00am. Every aspect of government performed as they should, right up to the elected officials.”
“I was really impressed with Sonna and Eldrin Bell, adds Boddie. “They chatted with me like they were my personal neighbors, asking what they could do and how they could help. That really touched me.” Singleton put the Boddies (and a few other families) in contact with sources for affordable temporary housing. The Boddie family is able to pay their mortgage, household bills and rent without much of an additional financial burden, thanks to their commissioner.
Clayton’s businesses stepped up as well. Wal-Mart sent more food and water than could be consumed. Home Depot sent volunteers to help with the clean up, and lumber to shore up structurally unsound homes. Dominos brought out pizzas. “The biggest reward was the tremendously positive response of our community. Many just jumped in and worked side by side with firefighters.
Plenty of examples of neighbors helping neighbors. I saw families that lost everything have the most upbeat attitude. Residents scrambled through their refrigerators to get us water, food, anything they had. It was that positive outlook that motivated firefighters and police officers to continue, and they worked 12 hours straight without any relief. It was just a sense of community. It’s the sort of thing that made everyone proud to live and work in Clayton County,” says Chief Cohilas.
All in all, this natural disaster brought out the best of Clayton County, a great cooperative effort between public safety, various government agencies, the business community and the residents themselves.
“You saw neighbors being neighborly. Folks coming out of their homes to help their neighbors collect their belongings and find refuge. It was great to see humanity come out full force,” adds Chief Turner.
Tornado tip from your police chief, “Buy a weather radio in case your power goes out” during inclement weather.
Only three Clayton families affected were without home insurance and needed support from the community and Red Cross.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Kimberly Allen
Comments
By anonymously anonymous
May 27, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
GOD BLESS ALL WHO OFFERED SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE TORNADOES
By VirusData
May 27, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
anonymously anonymous
As I do agree fully with you post above. As I truly believe that all the people that was effected by the tornadoes is getting a * RAW DEAL or the Shaft* by the Governor and our Elected Officals that deny’s them in getting their home fixed by some conflict of law that was made.
But this is not the only time the Governor an other State Elected Officals that let down a County , look at ours now. As they o not care about our County as they want it to implode on its self as they see the Bigger Picture to take over this County to expand the Atlanta Airport and force people out, just please think about that.
By Lisa daniels
May 27, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
We are getting the shaft from our commissioner and others. I find it messed up every county but clayton gets aid. Singelton has the nerve to say we don’t need aid because we have great response? What a crock of BS! I have not seen any aid whatsoever.
By USE SOME COMMON SENSE!
May 27, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
I can’t get over all of the whining I have heard about Clayton County not being declared a federal disaster area. People should put down their “begging for government hand-outs” hand for a minute - and know the facts. “Disaster” status does not mean your welfare payments will be higher, or someone will step in and pay your bills. It only kicks in if “UNINSURED” losses exceed a certain level. The VAST majority of the damage done in Clayton County was INSURED!!! That is what insurance is for! If you were too cheap to buy insurance then you should be responsible enough to take care of YOUR SELF!
Quit spending your time looking for hand-outs and get busy with improving your life!
By Concerned oldtimer
May 27, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
I love the way Clayton Countians took care of themselves without depending on the government. That is the way it is supposed to work. Homeowners had insurance! It is much better to be self-reliant.Government does not do much well anyway. And although our damaged areas were bad we can count our blessings we don’t live in Iowa, kansas, or Colorado!
By Red
May 27, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
Ms. Alieka Anderson will have a meet and greet on May 30th. Try and be there.
It will be at Mo Joe’s in Rex GA. at 7:00 P.M.
Please come out and meet her so that you can know what she is all about.
This is for our children.
By Clayton Advocate
May 27, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Thank you, “Common Sense” and “Oldtimer”. It’s nice to see someone gets it.
By Red
May 28, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
The time for Aleika meet and greet is 6:00 P.M. Not 7:00 P.M.
By Andre
May 28, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
We are NOT getting the shaft by anyone. With only a few exceptions, the impacted homes were all insured and will be rebuilt/repaired. No need in taking state or federal taxes to pay for what our insurance policies pay for. Additionally, our neighborhoods were cleaned of storm debris significantly faster than those in our neighboring counties. Our local (county) resources performed brilliantly!
By Anonymous
May 29, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff. Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff. Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff. Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff. Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff. Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff. Vote Kem Kimbrough for sheriff.
By Michael
May 29, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Anonymous,
Who do you think we should vote for for sheriff?
By USE SOME COMMON SENSE!
May 30, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
Anonymous:
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
By anonymous
May 30, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
I think Kem will make a great Sheriff. He’s the only candidate that has commanded over 200 officers, managed a 17 million dollar budget and has lobbied for the Ga Sheriffs Association. He has participated on many community boards and he has a well thought out vision about what he plans to offer the citizens as a Sheriff. To me, the choice is clear. I think Kem can do it and make us look good at the same time. Our county’s image is in the dumps right now. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone who knows what they are doing be the Chief Law Enforcement Officer?
By Curious
May 30, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
We have a CHIEF of police.
We need a Sheriff that knows his place!!!! and someone that has worked closely and had the respect of the Sheriffs Department.
I must admit, Kimbrough is a good talker.!!! We need a good doer!!!!
By JohnsonQP23
May 30, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Hey,
Anybody know the truth about the allegations that Sheriff Hill allegedly was campaigning (and not helping victims) in Ellenwood in the aftermath of the tornadoes?
By Attn: Clayton Parents
May 30, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
Yes you most emphatically can say Rod Johnson brought SACS in. He filed the complaint that gave them the justification to “investigate.”
Un$$%#$believeable! Rod Johnson the man who KNOWINGLY hired an accused, now indicted, child sexual predator to work in the school system, the man who threw the ENTIRE system under the bus in a snit because his deeds such as the one above were exposed and people come on this blog to defend him.
By Informer
May 31, 2008 1:45 AM | Link to this
((JohnsonQP23)) Yes you are correct. There were many witnesses that Victor was handing out campaign literature to the storm victims, instead of helping. He also was passing them out at a funeral recently. Victor is a total fool! Nice work electing this fool clayton voters!
By anonymously anonymous
June 2, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
To Attn: Clayton Parents (aka Norreese Haynes)
No one on this blog defends Rod Johnson or you, for that matter. All previous and current board members seated during the 2007-2008 school year have $%#$-ed up, and we want you all gone!