Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle tours Southwest Georgia tornado damage

ALBANY — Even those who have become accustomed to seeing natural disasters have come into Southwest Georgia and gone into a state of shock over what they have found following the tornado that touched down in Dougherty County on Sunday.

Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was of a similar frame of mind after surveying the storm damage before conducting a news conference at the entrance of Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany on Friday.

Cagle, now in his third term as lieutenant governor, said the ruination he has seen in the region is likely the worst he has ever seen, estimating the damages, based on his observations, to be at roughly $400 million.

“I was in Berrien (County), talked to a family of four who lost their mother and father,” he said Friday, flanked by Albany area officials and legislators. “(We are) seeing the sad heartbreak that people are experiencing.”

The lieutenant governor said many facilities and historic oak trees have been destroyed, causing changes to the landscape that cannot be repaired, but that he has been touched by how the tornado, along with the Jan. 2 storm, has promoted community togetherness and brought neighbors closer to each other.

“Bringing the community together and neighbors (coming in to help each other) is very refreshing,” Cagle said.

While those impacted by the devastation, including the nearly 200 who have been displaced and the families of those who have lost loved ones, put their lives back together, Cagle encouraged volunteerism — specifically mentioning the American Red Cross and United Way of Southwest Georgia as avenues people can use to give back.

“There is a sense of service, and we should all be called to this,” he said.

Employers such as Southern Ag Carriers, Procter & Gamble and MCLB-Albany were impacted, and some rebuilding will need to take place. Cagle said he saw the early pictures of the damage, but nothing compared to putting boots on the ground to see what residents and industries now face in their path to recovery.

“Nothing does it justice until you see it up close,” he said.

Looking at the loss of life, downed trees and utility poles, twisted metal, destroyed homes and lost possessions, Cagle praised Albany’s officials, specifically Dougherty County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas and Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, for their resilience in time of tragedy.

“It chokes you up inside because of the emotions you feel,” he said.

As of Friday, the death toll in Albany associated with the tornado was at five, bringing the total number of Georgia fatalities to 16. The 2-year-old reported missing in Albany immediately following Sunday’s tornado is yet to be found.

A donation center is open daily from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at 107 Front St. for those wishing to contribute food and household items. A volunteer center is also open daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at 700 E. Oglethorpe Blvd. Contact numbers are (229) 733-2492 and (229) 733-2534 or go online to [email protected].