Firefighters Helping With Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts

CARTERSVILLE, GA — Several members of the Cartersville and Bartow County fire departments have dispatched themselves to help clean up areas hit hard last week by Hurricane Michael.

Bartow County firefighters on Monday took to the roads and search areas to clear debris left behind the storm in Seminole County, which is located in southwest Georgia on the border with Alabama and Florida. That county was among the hardest hit in the southern portion of the Peach State. It was also where an 11-year-old girl died when a leg of the carport at her grandparents home crashed through the roof and struck her in the head.

Bartow crews also assisted Miller County and the cities of Bainbridge and Albany with their relief and cleanup efforts. The Cartersville Fire Department also sent nine personnel to lend a hand in southwest Georgia.

"In what many have described as looking like a war zone, firefighters have been preforming search and rescue functions, incident management, road clearing and basically whatever task the locals need to aid in their recovery," the city said on its Facebook page.

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Cartersville firefighters were sent to Valdosta and Thomas County before the hurricane arrived and rode the storm out in those locations. After the storm passed, those public servants went to work in performing search and rescue missions and returned late Sunday evening.

A second wave of firefighters arrived Sunday in Albany, and have since moved on to help officials in Donalsonville where they will remain until Friday, the city added. Cartersville firefighters have served in Camilla, Thomasville, Colquitt, Bainbridge and Donalsonville, as well as other points in between those cities.

For those who'd like to help, the Bartow County Fire Department is collecting relief supplies for residents hit hardest in Miller County. Residents can drop off supplies through Friday, Oct. 20 at Fire Station 1 at 5435 Highway 20 in Cartersville. The most-needed items are baby diapers and baby supplies.

Other items requested are: toiletries, personal hygiene items, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, tarps and ropes, bleach, towels, disposable gloves, large garbage bags, flashlights and batteries, nonperishable snacks (nuts, crackers, protein bars, etc.) sports drinks, paper towels and dog and cat food.

For more information, call (770) 387-5151.

SEE ALSO:

• White House Approves Georgia's Request For Federal Assistance
• President Trump Surveying GA's Hurricane Michael Damage Monday

Images via Bartow County Fire Department/city of Cartersville