EDITORIAL: Storm-ravaged Southwest Georgia needs federal help now

It is hard to imagine a community or a region that has gone through more than Albany and Southwest Georgia have since New Year’s Day.

The Jan. 2 storms and tornadoes that blasted through the area were horrible enough, but the deadly Saturday and Sunday storms that ravaged Southwest and South Central Georgia in three vicious waves have left residents of the area awestruck at the fury of nature unleashed.

While the property damage, loss of basic necessities like electricity, and weariness from another bout with an uncompromising force that is difficult to comprehend were bad enough, the loss of lives is truly tragic. We were fortunate on Jan. 2, but this time we have lost neighbors, friends and family.

A person could be excused for feeling that there was some cosmic effort to wipe the area and city from the map.

The reaction of first responders has, again, been tremendous. Already fatigued from the ongoing ordeal of the Jan. 2 storms, they have reached down deeper to come to the aid of others. They have made us proud in their work to rescue people trapped in homes and other buildings, and to somehow work their ways to places that are inaccessible. The word hero is thrown around too casually these days, but these folks — repairing power lines in the rain, sawing through trees to get to storm victims, removing trees and debris from roadways, protecting the public safety — have earned the title.

There have been deaths, but in viewing the devastation it is miraculous there weren’t more. There was a savageness to the winds that is nearly incomprehensible, evidenced by destroyed buildings, roofs stripped to their plywood and yanked off altogether, giant trees that have been here for decades, withstanding countless storms, falling over and damaging property.

Monday was a gray, depressing day in many ways. Misty and somber, it was a sad reminder of the destruction that leads some to affirm their faith in a higher power and others to doubt the existence of such.

But late in the afternoon, sunlight broke through. From this, too, we will rise.

Already there have been so many instances of friends and neighbors — and strangers — helping storm victims. We said it when the Jan. 2 storms hit and it bears repeating — when bad times are at their worst, good people are at their best. This is proving the case once again.

But with damage this massive, we need a helping hand. We need all the help we can get.

That’s already coming in, with agencies and disaster organizations mobilizing, including some still here from the previous disaster.

We also are happy to see that two of metro Albany’s best-known celebrities — Luke Bryan and Phillip Phillips — are working with Albany musician Bo Henry and songwriter Dallas Davidson to set up a benefit concert to help with the recovery.

But we also hope that the federal government will be swift in getting the needed federal assistance in here. As Gov. Nathan Deal declared, we are in a state of emergency. President Donald Trump ran on a platform of being a man of action, one who will cut through regulations. We hope that is one campaign promise he will keep in the case of this regional disaster. If ever action was needed, this is the time.

Yes, we will rise, but we sure could use a helping hand just now, Mr. President.