Americus says goodbye to hospital damaged by tornado

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Americus says goodbye to hospital damaged by tornado

Storms devastated Americus in March 2007, destroying the regional hospital. In a ceremonial demolition, residents said goodbye to the old hospital to make way for a new one scheduled for completion in 2010.

In March, storms rammed through Americus and heavily damaged Sumter Regional Hospital. The demolition of the condemned building Wednesday marks a new beginning for the community.

A crane takes out a chunk of old the hospital, which was opened in 1953.

A column crashes down during the demolition. A new facility is targeted for completion in 2010.

State Sen. George Hooks waves to the crowd after helping operate a wrecking machine.

Lillian Lopez had been a volunteer before the tornado and will continue doing so in the new building.

Kellette Wade and his mother, Martha Wade, were among the very first patients in the hospital. "I'm sad," she said. "It was so nice when we moved into it."

Diane Hill gets ready to enter one of the wrecking machines. Her raffle ticket won her the right to make first blow. "My legs were shaking," she said later. "Every time I hit it, the whole cab jumped."

A crowd gathers for the ceremonial demolition. The Americus-Sumter County High School Singers performed a jazzy version of "Silent Night" at the event.

Chastity Bailey and Brandy Whaley pass out balloons before start of the ceremonial demolition.

A pregnant Robyn Ragsdale was in the hospital when the tornado struck in March. She and other patients were evacuated by school bus to Albany. Her son, Walker, was born three weeks later.

The tornado wiped out businesses and homes, leaving the community reeling. Linda McClendon looks through the wreckage of her beauty shop after the storm on March 2.

Shekedra Wilson burps her newborn daughter, Nigeria Dodson, in their Americus home. Wilson was admitted in labor at Sumter Regional Hospital's temporary obstetrics ward, which was set up in a tent. She ended up giving birth in an ambulance on the way to a hospital in Albany. At left is Wilson's cousin, Portia Burton.

Medical technician Elaine Phillips fills out paperwork in March for a patient's lab results at a temporary lab set up by FEMA.

The labor room in the obstetrics ward was destroyed. At left, the hospital's outdoor courtyard and roof, and the sky, are visible.

The hospital as a whole was severely damaged by the tornado. It has cleared $98 million in an insurance settlement toward the $125 million cost of a new building and equipment.

The hospital was hit hard, with the third floor surgical unit completely destroyed.

A worker clears downed trees after the March storm.

President Bush tours the disaster area.

President Bush listens to Americus residents while touring the destruction in March.

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In March, storms rammed through Americus and heavily damaged Sumter Regional Hospital. The demolition of the condemned building Wednesday marks a new beginning for the community.

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