Bagley Middle School ground zero for recovery efforts

Bagley Middle School became ground zero for rescue efforts after two tornadoes tore through Murray County late Sunday night and will continue to serve in the aftermath of Easter’s deadly storms.

Dewayne Bain, Director of Emergency Management for Murray County, said at Monday afternoon’s press conference he’s received numerous calls about volunteering to help clean the parts of the county that were damaged.

“Our efforts are switching to recovery and clean-up,” he said, adding that so far, everyone is accounted for as those reported missing have been located. In all, seven people died and 23 were hospitalized as a result of the two tornadoes.

Greg Hogan, Sole Commissioner for Murray County, said in a live Facebook post Tuesday that there were still power lines down creating safety hazards.

“If anyone has Bobcats or excavators, go to the homes of some our elderly and help clean up,” he said.

Bain said he and his staff will revisit the damage on Tuesday morning and start a volunteer effort at Bagley Middle School for those wanting to help to sign up.

Volunteers should meet at Bagley Middle School at noon.

The school opened up last night around 10 p.m. after the roof was ripped off the apartment buildings across from the school.

Mike Pritchett said they opened the doors to the middle school after Bain asked if they could.

At the height of the relocation, Pritchett said they had 150-200 people in the school. Bain said about 40 of those were residents of the apartments. The American Red Cross had those displaced by the two tornadoes in hotel rooms by late morning.

“We provided transportation for the last seventeen,” said Pritchett.

The cafeteria at Bagley began getting breakfast and lunches together for emergency crews. Paul’s Drive-thru donated food and as the day went on, donations of water, sodas and food poured in from Lowe’s, Family Dollar, Dollar General and individuals.

But, it’s not just emergency crews, Pritchett said.

“They are preparing bag breakfasts and lunches for students as well,” he said, adding those alone were about 1,800 meals.

Lowes of Dalton donated buckets, gloves, contractor trash bags, and tarps to help with relief efforts.

Governor Brian Kemp flew in to survey damages and speak with local officials about the damage and recovery efforts. He declared another state of emergency for Georgia, the first for the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation and the second for the rash of storms that swept through Georgia on Sunday and Monday. He asked if Bagley experienced any damage.

“ Yes,” Steve Loughridge answered. “We have some roof damage.”

Harder hit was Northwest Elementary School on Hwy. 225.

“About 60-percent of the roof is gone,” said Loughridge.

Loughridge told Kemp he went to Northwest Elementary early this morning to shut off the propane tanks.

“There was a fireman there who asked if I knew how to do it. I did, so he went to join the search and rescue,” Loughridge said.

While some have questioned Bain’s decision to not open the school until after the storm passed, he said he there is no way of knowing where the tornadoes will strike and felt people would be safer sheltering in place. While Bagley had some damage, it was minimal, compared to Northwest Elementary, which lost at least 60-percent of it’s roof.

Several faculty and staff were on hand at Northwest, inspecting the damage. Glass littered the parking lot from the large windows and the roof was peeled away, exposing rafters.

“I’ve worked here for 24 years,” said Lois Hickman, who came to see the damaged school. “It can be replaced, but I worry about the students. We’ll have a lot displaced from here.”

One woman worked cleaning up her mother’s trailer. Her mother was one of the injured. “She had surgery this morning,” said the woman, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Angel. “We can’t even see her because of the restrictions in place.”

Angel said her mother’s injuries, though serious, weren’t life-threatening. “Her Harley is okay and her dogs, but everything else is gone.”

She said the front of the trailer was totally destroyed and the back of it was flipped upside down.