Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The Jenkins County Board of Commissioners would like to express their appreciation to the many volunteers and volunteer groups for their time, their support and compassionate help given to our citizens hit by the big storm winds and rain between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 11.

The first groups out to help were Jenkins County's volunteer firemen: North Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department; South Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department; Birdsville Volunteer Fire Department; South Jenkins County-District #6 Volunteer Fire Department; and Oak Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Jenkins County's game warden, Don Dasher, rode throughout the storm area, calling in sites that needed help and checking for injured citizens. Jenkins County's emergency management agent, Bob Fields, was out in the areas hit by the storm, helping out and assessing the damage. Jenkins County Ambulance Service responded to give assistance to any hurt and injured who needed medical attention and transportation. Sheriff Fields and his deputies responded to residents needing assistance, and patrolled the county. Several employees of the Jenkins County Forestry Unit responded to help clear roads. Jenkins County road supervisors and employees were quickly on the scene with saws and other equipment to clear roads. All of these volunteers were using their personal saws, vehicles, tractors and other means to clear roads, to keep traffic flowing and allow Planters Electric to get through to begin pole and line repair and restore power as quickly as possible. This was accomplished in an amazingly short period of time, considering the damage.

With justified praise, we applaud the above mentioned volunteers, both county and private citizens, but, in the first instance, neighbor helping neighbor was crucial to the wellbeing of our citizens. Story after story can be related how individuals in the damaged communities pulled together and pitched in to help their nextdoor neighbor, or several down the road. Just checking on each other proved our brotherly love for each other, and pulled our communities together in this time of danger and need.

Jenkins County is now in the cleanup, insurance adjustments and replacement process. Our prayers attend each citizen and family that sustained an injury and whose property was damaged or lost. Our greatest blessing is that no life was lost, no one grievously injured, and we can begin to repair, rebuild and continue with our daily lives.

Jenkins County Commissioners