South Georgia Flooding and Coming Rains

The last thing Southwest Georgia needs right now is rain, but that's exactly what the National Weather Service is predicting.

Over the next three days the area could see an additional thirteen inches of rain. That's on top of the nearly foot of rain that fell over the weekend in some places.

The ground is already saturated and creeks and streams are at capacity. Scott Bowers is with the Tift County Emergency Management Agency. He says people need to be vigilant.

"People in low-lying areas, people that are, you know, close to bodies of water, they need to have steps in place to evacuate their homes. They need to make sure they are looking out their windows and looking at the levels of the water in the ponds and streams."

Governor Sonny Perdue has declared a State of Emergency in several counties. Emergency officials in Albany are filling and placing sandbags in flood prone areas. Several roads remain closed in the region.

Thomasville, Area Residents Take Stock in Tornadoes' Wake (photos)

Last Thursday's tornadoes caused heavy damage to a mental hospital and two counties in southwest Georgia.

Red dots represent the tornadoes' damage track near Thomasville, Ga. Click image for larger graphic. (Courtesy: NOAA)

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine visited and flew over areas hit by the twisters, and puts an over $10 million dollar price tag on the damage.

The tornadoes blew down two pine trees across this house off State Highway 319, south of Thomasville. Ga., in this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. (Photo courtesy Greg Miller)

He says he was surprised by the extent of the destruction, and adds that Thomas County sustained the greatest damage statewide:

"In Thomas and Grady County there were about 100 homes and other structures that were damaged by the two tornadoes that went through Thomas County, and there were about two dozen that were either destroyed or almost destroyed."

The storms wreaked havoc on Southwestern State mental Hospital in Thomasville. Officials, however, report no injuries.

The tornado demolished this enclosed corridor, "part of an old military barracks on the Southwestern State Hospital campus." (Photo: Teresa Williams/Thomasville Times-Enterprise)

Almost 160 patients remain hospitalized at the 420-bed center, although many have been moved to other facilities in Columbus and Milledgeville, for the interim.

Oxendine says his office hopes to meet with counterparts at the Department of Human Resources, who run Southwestern State, in coming days.

The storm's winds overturned this school bus, in the parking lot of the Brookwood school, Thomasville. Ga., in this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. The school sustained damage, but there were no injuries to students or staff, according to the photographer. (Photo courtesy Greg Miller)

Officials estimate the storm's effects statewide at upwards of $35 million dollars.

View Larger Map

Google street level map of Southwestern State Hospital at Thomasville, Ga.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of last week's storms.

Reports Show Problems at Blakely Plant

State Agriculture reports show the Blakely peanut butter plant at the center of a salmonella investigation has a history of sanitation problems. Records indicate the southwest Georgia processing plant had been cited for cleanliness issues in 2006 and ’07. Inspection reports from last year showed similar and other problems. And the now-closed plant during two routine inspections last year showed no indications of samples having been taken for salmonella testing. The salmonella outbreak has sickened 500 people and been linked to seven deaths. More than 125 products have been recalled nationwide.

To see a copy of the reports, click here.

Albany gets infusion of nearly 400 jobs

Dougherty County is getting a big boost for its' economy, as nearly 400 jobs over the next few years are coming to Albany.

Senior Life Insurance Company announced it will establish a multipurpose complex in Albany. By the time of its' January 1st opening of next year, about 100 jobs will have been created, with 300 more following over three years.

Southwest Georgia has seen a decline in agriculture and manufacturing jobs in recent years. Two major companies also recently left the area. That makes this news so exciting for Dougherty County Commission chairman Jeff "Bodine" Sinyard:

"Everyone is winning, and most of all the citizens of southwest Georgia are winning...we're starved for jobs in southwest Georgia and this announcement is an incredible good injection for all of us...it's a real shot in the arm for everybody in southwest Georgia".

Sinyard says the key is that these are quality jobs with good benefits packages for future workers.

Seinor Life is based in Thomasville, but company officials say it can meet its growing needs in Albany.