Tornadoes were at the top of the agenda today at the Governor's Emergency Management Conference in Savannah. Sumter County emergency officials told colleagues from across the state about the steep challenges they faced three months ago when deadly twisters struck.
For example -- nine emergency operators were handling 400 911 calls an hour from seven counties. Americus police and firefighters lost radio communications for up to three hours. Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus, which serves eight counties, was nearly destroyed by a direct hit from a tornado.
Since then, Sumter County officials say they have made improvements such as adding a phone bank to the 911 center … and getting backup generators for radio systems.
For example -- nine emergency operators were handling 400 911 calls an hour from seven counties. Americus police and firefighters lost radio communications for up to three hours. Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus, which serves eight counties, was nearly destroyed by a direct hit from a tornado.
Since then, Sumter County officials say they have made improvements such as adding a phone bank to the 911 center … and getting backup generators for radio systems.
