Community Corner

Alpharetta Man Texts Of Devastation in Georgia

Tornado that struck Lamar flipped cars, threw houses hundreds of feet and flattened buildings.

While Susan O'Dwyer and her son, James, plan a trip to Tuscaloosa to pick up his things after dropping off donated supplies, her husband is dealing with the aftermath of another tornado.

The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) activated First Lt. E.J. O'Dwyer to help tornado victims in this state. On Friday, he and other members of the GSDF headed to Lamar, the scene of a tornado that struck on the same day a tornado cut a swath through Tuscaloosa.

What follows is the text message he sent his wife after arriving and taking a tour of the destruction:

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Made it down here safe and sound.  Beautiful drive until I got near Bentonville.  

Saw two building flattened at an intersection and a few snapped trees. 

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Got to our operations center and the COL took me on a tour of the worst hit area.

Beyond belief.  Walked past house that were piles of rubble. Two cars turned upside down that looked like a giant hand had squeezed them.

House picked up and thrown 400 feet.

All surrounded by at least a quarter mile of broken/snapped trees.

People pitching tents next to what was their homes.

Nobody crying or moping. Just going about the business of clean up.

TV station truck parked there. Red Cross food truck. Our guys all over the place.

We sealed off the street entering the area. Only people who live (lived?) there allowed in.

Total destruction and hard to imagine what Tuscaloosa must look like.

Feel totally inadequate to help these people.

1LT E. J. O'Dwyer
S1 1BDE GSDF

 


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