Gov. Kemp tours Adel to get first hand look at devastating storm damage

ADEL, Ga. – Yesterday evening Governor Brian Kemp renewed a State of Emergency order due to severe weather damage and today, Kemp toured two Southwest Georgia counties left heavily damaged by the storms and suspected tornados. Governor kemp was accompanied by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director, Homer Bryson, to assess the situation and discuss the possibility of providing aid for affected areas.

“This doesn’t even matter, we’ll get it taken care of, get it cleaned up. It was much worse, like I said, it was horrific yesterday,” says Adel resident Iris Upshaw as she looks at the damage sustained by her home.

Like many residents in Adel, Upshaw’s house is covered with debris and entire uprooted trees.

This damage you see here from all around town is a result of an apparent tornado that ripped through the area yesterday afternoon.

And After hearing of the extensive storm damage, Governor Kemp took a helicopter ride into town to see it first hand.

“Today I’m focused on making sure our people here of the great state of Georgia got the resources they need from a recovery stand point,” says Gov. Kemp.

GEMA and Homeland Security Director Homer Bryson says that the agency will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to asses the possibility of financial aid.

“We’re already working with the local governments and we’re doing assessments now and as we document the damage that’s here we’ll reach out to FEMA and we’ll ask for joint assessments with those and we’ll make that process move as quickly as we can,” says Bryson.

In the mean time, residents are cleaning up debris, moving branches and breaking down trunks.

Some Adel residents say they were happy to see the governor take an interest in their situation.

“It was nice to know that my governor was coming down to check out my town to make sure that clean up was going well and that he seemed genuinely concerned when he was here,” says Adel resident Lamar Williams.

It may take several weeks to confirm whether federal funds will come to Adel.

Bryson says that even if federal funds are not given to the area, GEMA will work with private companies and volunteer group to help relieve the area of damage.