Today was encouraging. Progress is being made. While I know many are still experiencing individual pain and difficulties, we are making wholesale improvements and meeting as many needs as we possibly can. We have aid in our community from 7 different states. People know we are hurting and they are responding. Georgia Baptist Association provided 7,300 meals today and have a goal of 7,400 tomorrow. They will also have 100 volunteers showing up tomorrow serving as chain saw crews
Food distribution for tomorrow (10/3/24)
* Toombs Central - 10:00am-2:00pm they will have MRE’s, water, canned tuna fish, tarps
* 1601 US #1 North Lyons, Ga (Old John Deere) - 10:00am-12:00pm they will have MRE’s, water, canned tuna fish, tarps. ALSO THE DROP OFF SITE FOR DONATED GOODS - contact Phyllis Frederick at (912) 293-3937 to coordinate drop off times and desired items for donations and volunteers
* Oaks Baptist Church - 12:30pm they will have food and tarps. Salvation Army will also distribute 1,000 meals from this site
*Vidalia Church of God - 12:00pm they will have sack lunches (first come, first serve) and hot meals from 4-6pm
PLEASE NOTE ALL LOCATIONS LISTED ABOVE ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE AND SUPPLIES COULD RUN OUT
(1) Convoy of Hope will be at Vidalia High School tomorrow (10/3/24) and serving the public beginning at 10:00am. They will have cereal, saltines, Mac & Cheese packets, spaghetti & tomato sauce packets, canned lasagna, bleach, candy coated nuts, pine sol, hygiene bags, potato chips, paper towels, coconut milk, cleaning buckets and water. Come in main entrance to VHS from 280
(2) Tomorrow (10/3/24) in addition to the 1,000 meals at the Oaks Baptist Church, Salvation Army will also distribute 2,000 meals from First Baptist Church Vidalia at 12:30pm
(3) Two things regarding your social media post: make sure to use #toombsstrong and any prior post you have made, PLEASE go back to edit and add #toombsstrong because this will help us with our FEMA reimbursement documentation. I CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS!
(4) If you want to give and help hurting people, please go to toombsstrong.com and click the how to help button. Simply put, share this nationwide, we need all the help we can get!!
(5) Looks Great Services hit the ground running today for right of way debris removal. There were 4 brush crews and 2 haul trucks. There will be 5 more added to their crew tomorrow. They will be building up to 30 trucks. Please understand between the debris removal fleet and the number of powerline trucks in our community, providing the aid we all need is going to congest our roads. Please be patient, please pay attention as you navigate our roads and only travel when necessary. The delays are unavoidable but remember these companies are here to help us
(6) Thank all of our law enforcement. Due to their commitment and quick responses, they are doing a tremendous job of keeping us safe!! They are equally as tired as everyone else yet remain steadfast to their calling. Thank them, hug them and even consider providing them a meal
(7) We have had 52 leaks in the last three days (that we know of). If you have one, report it and be patient. They are unavoidable but will be addressed
Get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day. I promise you we will attack it with the same intensity as we have from day one. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, help a neighbor, remember to keep your sense of humor and pray for everyone impacted. God is good, He loves us and He is meeting our needs!!!
Update City of Vidalia 10/2/24 10:00 am
There was such energy in our 9:00 am update this morning. Those fighting for you will not slow down are wain in their efforts. We are making great progress and working around the clock to increase the aid we all desperately need. Pay close attention below as there is a lot of good information.
(1) If you post anything on social media regarding the storm, especially pictures, please include the hashtag #toombsstrong (it helps us track needs and have documentation)
(2) If you want to contribute monetarily, please go to toombsstrong.com and click on how to help
(3) We have a BURN BAN in Vidalia (County wide burn ban). I can’t urge you strongly enough about the danger of burning debris piles. DO NOT BURN…we will enforce this violation to the fullest extent of the law. Help is on the way for debris removal beginning today but you must remain patient.
(4) Reminder about the donation drop off and pickup site: 1601 US HWY 1 North Lyons (Old Lassiter John Deere site). Operation hours 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. We need volunteers at this site. You can call Phyllis Frederick at (912) 293-3937 or Patricia Dixon at (912) 537-2776
(5) Toombs County and 40 other Georgia Counties are now considered “disaster sites.” You may now apply for FEMA assistance. Here’s how to apply for assistance: Go to disasterassistance.gov or call (800) 621-3362. Once on the site, click the red “let’s get started button.” You’ll need to answer a number of questions
(6) Looks Great Services is beginning debris removal today and will be ramping up within a week with a fleet of trucks and workers. BE PATIENT as this will increase traffic on our roadways and cause delays. Stay off the roads as much as possible. Between power companies and Looks Great, there will be an increased volume of traffic but it’s necessary to bring us the relief we need. Look for alternate routes and be patient if you hit a traffic delay. Reminder to get debris as close to right of ways as possible; trucks can reach 15 feet into your private property to remove debris. DO NOT include storm damage material in vegetation piles. Looks Great will remove storm debris as well, but you need to create separate piles for vegetation and storm debris. They will make multiple passes through the community over the coming months so if they don’t get all of your piles on the first pass, don’t panic and continue to keep piles within 15 feet of right of ways. Looks Great Services will provide services to City of Vidalia, City of Lyons and Toombs County (including rural areas)
(7) DO NOT RUN GENERATORS too close to your homes OR INSIDE YOUR HOMES…this is an extreme hazard
(8) Calvary on Aimwell will distribute 400 meals on 10/5/24 at 6:30 pm
Keep your chins up!!! We are making progress. A series of small steps turn into leaps and bounds over time!!! You are loved, cared for and continued help is on the way. We can do this and we will persevere. I’m proud of you and it’s a pleasure to serve you!! THANK YOU to all of our power companies, lineman, first responders, Police and Sheriff’s, DNR, GBI, Fireman, EMS and countless volunteers. Simply put, you are the hands and feet of Jesus!!!
Update City of Vidalia 10/1/24 7:45 pm
This is going to be a completely raw and transparent way to start this update. I share for one reason: as bad as we have it, and we have it bad, things can always be worse. This quote came from a lineman in Asheville, NC who is working there: “Went up to “x” road where it connects to “x”. Whole area is gone. 100 foot ravine where houses used to sit. Kids walking around naked asking where their parents are. People BEGGING for water. Black Hawk helicopters from FEMA. I don’t want to talk about the smell of dead bodies. I’m in disbelief.”
I pray everyone reading this, through the pain you’re experiencing, can still see the hand of God on our community and sense His presence. With the amount of damage we incurred, the only confirmed death in Toombs County at this time is one person, that is nothing less than a miracle.
(1) If you want to volunteer, call Patricia Dixon at (912) 537-2776. Please keep in mind, this is very fluid and remains difficult to know where to direct people
(2) If you want to donate resources, money, go to toombsstrong.com and click on how to help. We need all we can get
(3) *FEMA IS NOT ON THE GROUND…if you’ve heard otherwise, it’s bad information
(4) Rivers are continuing to rise. If you are in a low area, you need to get to higher ground if at all possible
(5) Reminder Convoy of Hope will be serving meals at Vidalia High School Thursday morning at 10:00 am
(6) No Court this week due to State of Emergency
(7) 1601 US 1 South Lyons, Ga is being set up as a drop off and distribution site for supplies. This location will receive water, dry goods, canned goods, tarps, clothes, etc…and also serve as a pickup site if you need those items from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm tomorrow (10/2/24). Will update operational times at this location as I learn them (we need volunteers at this location)
Please remain patient. We are moving heaven and earth to help you. We love you, we are in the trenches with you and we are getting you help as fast as we humanly can. We try our best to give out accurate information but if dates, times, and supply pickup change, PLEASE remember this is fluid and subject to change.
God Bless you Vidalia, Lyons, Toombs County and all of our neighbors near and far.
Update City of Vidalia 10/1/2024 10:30 am
We continue to make progress on street clearings and more help is on the way this afternoon, as our third party contractor will begin mobilizing and working on clearing debris. REMINDER to get your debris as close to right of way as possible and leave trees and limbs in as large of sections as possible. This will be a lengthy process but help is coming. I should have updates this afternoon of where to point people that want to volunteer and a site location for drop off and distributions for donated goods.
(1) We are addressing leaks. Please be patient as they are unavoidable but notify us and we will address as quickly as possible
(2) All law enforcement agencies continue to have a strong presence to maintain law and order. Things feel safer and we are grateful to all these brave men and women
(3) Salvation Army is delivering meals today between 11:30-12:00 to these locations: 300 to Raymonia Apartments, 250 to Sub Division at corner of Toombs Street and Lydia Street, 200 to Faith Crossing Apartments on Agan Drive, 100 to Grove Apartments , 200 to Forest Glen Village, 300 to Doe Run Apartments and 300 to Vidalia Village
(4) If and when you see a FEMA Disaster Declaration list and our area is not included, be assured Gov. Kemp is fighting to expand the list. It is a fluid list and it will expand
Update City of Vidalia 9/30/24 9:30 pm
Bear with me folks, I’m exhausted. This update will probably be more scattered than grouped by organizations. Please continue to pray for all of leadership teams, we are giving this everything we have but we are human as well.
(1) 6 inch water main break on Barron Street. This will affect Lewis, Barron, Brumette, Forest Hill Circle and possibly Willow (Willow’s affect might be low pressure)
(2) EMC is making progress with power to sub stations: McGregor should be up tonight and Dennis Sport Shop has Power
(3) Ga Power assessment team has said things are much worse than initially thought. Their time frames will be pushed back. I know this isn’t what you want to hear but this is pure transparency and not hiding anything
(4) Boil advisory still in affect but early reports look promising. Will keep you updated
(5) ESG is addressing leaks. Unfortunately this will cause some line interruptions but we knew the us would occur
(6) Jail has water and power and Emergency 911 is operational
(7) Out of county deputies are coming in tonight to continue with increase law enforcement and they will be here through the weekend
(8) Lyons PD has additional patrol coming in as well
(9) City if Vidalia is sharing water with City of Lyons to assist with their needs. Your local governments work well together and that doesn’t happen everywhere (be thankful)
(9) Working several food distributions with updates to come
(10) 50% of unincorporated roads have been cleared
(11) Chainsaw strike teams are making incredible process
(12) Right of way clearing crews will be here Wednesday. Get debris piles in your yards as close to right of way as possible. This includes interior roads inside City of Vidalia. Keep the size of limbs and trees as big as you can. Don’t like under anything or on top of anything
(13) First Baptist Church of Vidalia has fed over 1,000 over last two days and countless others are stepping up to this need as well. Food resources by the thousands are on the way in next few days
Update City of Vidalia 9/30/24 3:45 pm
(1) Convoy of Hope will be here Wednesday October 2nd and begin distribution on the morning of Thursday Oct 3rd of water, food and tarps. The site location is Vidalia High School staff parking lot (front side of building facing 280)
(2) Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief is located under the blue tent at First Baptist Church Vidalia if you need to request assistance for damage to property
(3) Crisis Cleanup (844) 965-1386 is an organization you can reach out to if you need assistance with property damage
(4) First Baptist Church Vidalia has hot meals available right now (3:45 pm 9/30/24)
City of Vidalia Update 10:45 am 9-30-24
I want to begin this update and encourage everyone. I know you’re hurting, I know you need gas, I know you need food and I know most do not have power. Help is on the way and we are working around the clock to get our community the help it needs. I’m so proud of you; I see neighbors helping neighbors, I see people being part of the solution and through the eye of the storm, I’ve never been more proud to be part of this community. We will get through this, we will be stronger, we will heal and our landscape may look different but the fabric of what makes us Vidalia will remain. Stay the course, don’t lose hope and let us all row in the same direction…now to our update:
(1) Continued logistical networking with local, state and federal agencies is going on around the clock
(2) We are continuing to have some isolated looting. Know this will be met with appropriate force to mitigate and we are continuing to receive support from DNR, GBI and other agencies
(3) As power is being restored, increased domestic calls are occurring. This is a stressful time but we must remain calm and keep a collective resolve about us and not turn against each other, especially against the ones under our own roof
(4) A critical need looks for fuel to keep our first responders, PD, Fire and EMS on the roads. We are working that need but please stay off the roads as much as possible
(5) From EMC: Kibbee Sub Station should be up today and West Lyons Sub Station is energized. Additionally, all Toombs County Schools are back online with the exception being Toombs County High School
(6) Verizon Wireless is on sight to repair their tower. This should improve communications which has been crippling
(7) First Baptist Church Vidalia continues to serve meals and the amount of meals should daily increase as Georgia Baptist Association continues to mobilize and increase production
(8) State routes are cleared. Some are only one lane but are passable
(9) We are getting reports people are beginning to burn debris piles. DO NOT BURN!!! This is an extreme hazard with risks of burning piles getting out of control, spreading and getting the Fire Department on site to contain could be an issue. We have signed a contract for a company to remove all debris from public right of ways. Move your piles to the right of ways or as close to the right of ways as you possibly can and leave the debris in as big of sections as you possibly can. This will aid them in removal. Boots should be on the ground with this group beginning tomorrow
City of Vidalia update 9/29 6:15 pm 9-29-24
(1) During the time Republic will be unable to run normal scheduled trash pickups, we will have rolloff’s at the following locations for people to place their house trash into the rolloff’s. PLEASE DO NOT PUT STORM DEBRIS IN THESE ROLLOFF’S. If it isn’t anything you would normally put in your trash receptacle, please do not put it in the rolloff. Locations for rolloff’s: (a) First Baptist Church Vidalia parking lot next the VHA playground (b) Epstein Street Park (c) JR Trippe Entrance (d) Sally D. Meadows parking lot by playground (e) JD Dickerson staff parking lot off Estelle Drive by gymnasium (f) Godbee Park. These rolloff’s will be in place at daylight on September 30th.
(2) We have secured 750 more Ga Power lineman that will be here on the afternoon of September 30th and staged at our fairgrounds on Airport Road
(3) Salvation Army was onsite today at First Baptist Church Vidalia and delivered and distributed food
(4) Six or Seven GBI agents will be here tonight (9/29) by 7:00 pm to assist with policing
(5) Convoy of Hope (church based food service) has been requested. I will keep you posted if this comes to fruition
(6) Looks Great Services will have crews coming in Thursday to begin the process of removing debris from public right of ways. This group can not go on private property but will have knuckleboom trucks that can park on the edge of right of ways and reach as far as they can into private property to pick up debris. If you begin clean up of your private property, place debris at edge of right of way and do not cut into small pieces. The bigger the pieces of debris are, the better. Saves them time and expediency. Don’t put debris piles on top of anything or under anything; they need clear access. Don’t place on top of water meters or under power lines.
