Georgia lawmakers on Monday had moments of silence and fervent prayers for South Georgia’s recovery from this weekend’s deadly storms.
State Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, a Democrat from the Albany area, approached colleagues with what she said "was a heavy heart."
Powell Sims had been one of the loudest voices at the Capitol seeking aid to the area when storms swept through the same area earlier this month. Now, she said, she came before them to report more “tragedy and devastation.”
“On yesterday afternoon, a wedge-shaped tornado eight miles long and about a mile wide hit Dougherty County,” Powell Sims said. “Everything that was not destroyed two weeks ago was destroyed yesterday.”
In the House, Rep. Gerald Greene, R-Cuthbert, said his district, which includes Albany, has been hammered for the second time in a few weeks.
“It just compounds what we’re going through,” Greene said.
Greene praised local, state and federal officials for their quick response to the storms.
"To Georgia Power, to the EMS, the Red Cross, Salvation Army to GEMA, FEMA, Governor Deal and his staff and to President Trump, our local officials, city and county, thank you for responding so quickly,” Greene said.
The devastation was heart breaking and complete, Greene said.
“Please, talk to your people in your district, they need clothing, they need canned goods and they need money to absolutely sustain them at this particular time.”
