GIS Helps Americus Respond to Tornado March 1, 2007

Thursday, March 1, :15 pm – F3 tornado hits Sumter County and Americus, Georgia 9:15 pm – F3 tornado hits Sumter County and Americus, Georgia Destroys local hospital Destroys local hospital Destroyed and damaged many businesses and homes Destroyed and damaged many businesses and homes Two deaths Two deaths

11:15 pm 11:15 pm Developed temporary GIS station at command post located at Public Safety Building Developed temporary GIS station at command post located at Public Safety Building Connected to server in Atlanta where GIS files are stored by BinaryBus using Lap Top with wireless connection Connected to server in Atlanta where GIS files are stored by BinaryBus using Lap Top with wireless connection Started providing critical information to officials Started providing critical information to officials Example – once we knew that streets were destroyed, I could determine how many homes were involved Example – once we knew that streets were destroyed, I could determine how many homes were involved

Entire Street Destroyed

Friday, March 2, :00 am 2:00 am Able to relocate to GIS office in City Hall Able to relocate to GIS office in City Hall Was given one of the few generators available at that time to start printing maps Was given one of the few generators available at that time to start printing maps Printed about 100 maps per hour until 7:00 am Printed about 100 maps per hour until 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am Had briefing meeting with local officials and emergency personnel to put in action to restore city Had briefing meeting with local officials and emergency personnel to put in action to restore city Continue to print maps all day and most of the night Continue to print maps all day and most of the night

5:00 pm 5:00 pm Local officials flew over area, viewed the damages, marked map of path the tornado took Local officials flew over area, viewed the damages, marked map of path the tornado took 7:00 pm 7:00 pm Began creating layer indicating the path of tornado through Sumter County Began creating layer indicating the path of tornado through Sumter County 11:00 pm 11:00 pm Head home – 24 hours later Head home – 24 hours later

Saturday, March 3, :00 am – Morning briefing with representatives of GEMA, FEMA, and local officials 8:00 am – Morning briefing with representatives of GEMA, FEMA, and local officials Provide representative with maps of tornado path Provide representative with maps of tornado path GEMA and FEMA identified information they needed for me to compile GEMA and FEMA identified information they needed for me to compile Needed to compile addresses of businesses and residences within the path Needed to compile addresses of businesses and residences within the path

Tornado Path – miles through Sumter County

Sumter Regional Hospital Destroyed

Doctors’ Offices Destroyed

Dignitaries Tour Area Saturday, March 3

Americus Declared a National Disaster Area

Recovery Begins Sunday, March 4, 2007 Sunday, March 4, 2007 Started compiling data and photos of damaged properties in the path of tornado. During the next days and weeks, we identified and assessed damages to each site and collected GIS data Started compiling data and photos of damaged properties in the path of tornado. During the next days and weeks, we identified and assessed damages to each site and collected GIS data Also began looking for available property owned by the city or county for use as dump sites Also began looking for available property owned by the city or county for use as dump sites

Maps

We had to find site for the recovery center that would house responding agencies and a distribution site for supplies We had to find site for the recovery center that would house responding agencies and a distribution site for supplies

Help came on Monday, March 5, 2007 BinaryBus (who houses our server and GIS website) contacted me about taking all the disaster data I had compiled and develop a disaster website for all GEMA, FEMA, local officials, public, etc. could use to help in the recovery BinaryBus (who houses our server and GIS website) contacted me about taking all the disaster data I had compiled and develop a disaster website for all GEMA, FEMA, local officials, public, etc. could use to help in the recovery This site was up and running by Tuesday afternoon – March 6 This site was up and running by Tuesday afternoon – March 6

We had addresses of damaged properties We had addresses of damaged properties Layer indicating the type of damage – such as roof or structural Layer indicating the type of damage – such as roof or structural Information as to type of property – such as business, residence, church, park, etc Information as to type of property – such as business, residence, church, park, etc Level of damage – destroyed, major, moderate or minor Level of damage – destroyed, major, moderate or minor Path of tornado Path of tornado Information developed on tornado Information developed on tornado

Maps showing path and damaged properties

Americus-Sumter County Damages As of April 26, 2007 As of April 26, 2007 Total Damages – 1235 Total Damages – 1235 Destroyed – 75 Destroyed – 75 –Businesses – 42 –Residents – 31 –Hospital – 1 –Churches – 1 Major – 148 Major – 148 –Businesses – 27 –Residents – 116 –Recreation Facilities / Parks – 3 –Churches – 2 Moderate Moderate –Businesses – 60 –Residents – 260 –Recreation Facilities / Parks – 3 –Churches – 5 –Schools – 1 –Cemeteries – 2 Minor – 681 Minor – 681 –Businesses – 88 –Residents – 586 –Recreation Facilities / Parks – 2 –Churches – 2 –Schools – 1 –Cemeteries – 1 –Fire Stations -1 Total Businesses w/ Damages – 217 Total Businesses w/ Damages – 217 Total Residents w/ Damages Total Residents w/ Damages Total Cemeteries – 3 Total Cemeteries – 3 Total Churches – 10 Total Churches – 10 Total Fire Stations – 1 Total Fire Stations – 1 Hospitals – 1 Hospitals – 1 Recreation Facilities / Parks – 8 Recreation Facilities / Parks – 8 Schools – 2 Schools – 2 Damaged area inside City of Americus 3.43 square miles Damaged area inside City of Americus 3.43 square miles Damaged area in Sumter County square miles Damaged area in Sumter County square miles Total square miles Total square miles

BinaryBus Site Helps – March 6, 2007 Link posted on website of local newspapers, radio and TV stations Link posted on website of local newspapers, radio and TV stations 1,600 maps were printed since tornado hit 1,600 maps were printed since tornado hit New website cut printing in half New website cut printing in half