Welcome to ZZ Sumter Regional Hospital

Lt. Gov., legislative aides, employees visit Americus

Genie Collins (3-13-07)

AMERICUS— The second highest public official in the state came to serve those aiding in the clean-up of Oak Grove Cemetery, from damages sustained during the March 1 tornado.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, as well as other Senate and legislative aides, made their way to Oak Grove Cemetery Monday to serve lunch to state inmates, as well as other relief workers at Oak Grove Cemetery. After lunch, Cagle and the state employees helped remove debris from Americus' historic cemetery.

Having landed at Souther Field Airport, Cagle and the other employees and aides went to Sumter Regional Hospital, which was severely damaged in the March 1 tornado. “I don't think anyone could have anticipated or prepared for the damage and devastation Americus felt,” Cagle said, when asked for a brief interview.

Having seen the mangled hospital, Cagle said he was amazed there were no casualties at the facility.
“We are very pleased with the people on the ground,” Cagle said. “Everyone has worked so diligently to repair what was damaged,” the lieutenant governor said. “It's very moving.”
Cindi Williams works for state Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus, in Atlanta, and she said she just had to do something, when asked why she decided to come to Americus and serve those working to put the community back together.
“There was no way I could just sit back and do nothing,” Williams said. “I love this community, and I love these constituents.”

There are a variety of agencies that have inmates assisting in debris removal. Also, there is a crew of state inmate details, and these prisoners have skills that are valuable in repairs in the recovery efforts.

Clay Tatum, warden at Lee State Prison, Leesburg, said he has helped coordinate approximately 250 inmates a day from both Lee State Prison and the Sumter County Correctional Institute. Also helping are inmates from the Terrell Probation Detention Center and the Southwest Probation Detention Center. “We've helped coordinate to assist with debris removal,” Tatum said.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207