Gore to tornado victims: 'We stand ready to help'

Gore views the tornado damage in Camilla, Georgia

February 16, 2000
Web posted at: 7:03 PM EST (0003 GMT)

CAMILLA, Georgia (CNN) -- Vice President Al Gore on Wednesday praised "a wonderful community spirit" in southwestern Georgia, ravaged by tornadoes that killed 18 and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

"I've been very impressed with the way this community has pulled together," Gore told families and reporters.

Standing in front of a house with no windows left and insulation falling out of the walls, Gore promised to provide assistance.

VIDEO Georgians hit by the tornadoes are wondering about their future. CNN's Mark Potter talks with them. (February 16) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Brian Cabell shows the devastation (February 15) Windows Media 28K 80K Video of tornado damage, with victims describing their experiences (February 14) Windows Media 28K 80K     INTERACTIVE GALLERY Scenes from the tornado damage in Camilla, Georgia     WEATHER FORECASTS Albany, GA Cairo, GA     AUDIO Listen to Mayor Jay Powell of Camilla, Georgia, describe the damage to his town 244K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Nature's wrath

"We stand ready to help with every contingency," he said. "If there's more that can be done, please don't hesitate to let us know."

Gov. Roy Barnes, Sen. Max Cleland, D-Georgia, and Federal Emergency Management Agency director James Lee Witt accompanied Gore down a street littered with debris.

The vice president, interrupting a campaign tour in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, talked with families who lost their homes. He shook hands and offered hugs.

One man stood in front of his car, crushed beneath a partially overturned 18-wheeler.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency has revised the death toll from Monday's storms downward to 18. Spokesman Ken Davis said 11 fatalities were confirmed in Mitchell County, six in Grady County and one in Colquitt County. Those counties, along with Tift County, have been declared federal disaster areas.

Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, whose district includes the disaster areas, accompanied Witt and GEMA director Gary McConnell on a tour of all four counties Wednesday afternoon.

"Although we've seen the worst that nature has to offer," Bishop said, "the community spirit has displayed the best that human nature has to offer."

The vice president said the moment was right to stress prevention. He urged residents of all tornado-prone areas to buy a weather radio and to build tornado-proof safe rooms.

"If you have the weather radio and rebuild with a safe room in your house, you're going to be all right, virtually no matter what," Gore said.

He said families could seek federal funding for construction of safe rooms.

American Red Cross officials said they were concentrating on "mental health," trying to help families whose homes were destroyed cope with their loss.

Gore said his wife, Tipper, reminded him to offer mental health services for those feeling overly stressed or depressed.

"There's no reason for anyone to shy away from coming forward and saying they need to talk," the vice president said.

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National Weather Service
  • Tornadoes: Nature's most violent storms
NWS Tallahassee: Georgia Weather
The Albany Herald
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
American Red Cross
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • FEMA - Fact Sheet - Tornadoes
The Tornado Project Online!
DisasterRelief.org
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

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