No one could have predicted what Hurricane, and eventually Tropical Storm, Irma would do to Thomas and Grady counties. As the storm made its way through the Greater Antilles and turned north towards the Florida Keys, southwest Georgia appeared to be placed directly in its path.

When Irma spun its way through Barbuda, Cuba and the Keys, it reached Category 5, the strongest and most powerful of hurricanes.

Though the storm was still several hundreds of miles away, planning for what it could do and the aftermath had to be done. 

We commend the authorities at both the city and the county for their preparation in advance of Tropical Storm Irma and for getting to work quickly to clear the roads and restore power when it was safe to be out there.

We also salute the workers who went out there, even in conditions that were still treacherous, to get power back up or to make the roads passable again. The city and county have invested in technology that allows each to assess more quickly such problems as power outages and downed trees. It has shown its benefit this week.

Irma’s might also led Archbold officials to make unique preparations. One was to rearrange dialysis treatments scheduled for early in the week to be moved to Sunday, starting very early that day. Another was to call in the staff needed to keep the hospital running and to provide care for the patients to come in the night before so they would not have to navigate possibly dangerous roads.

As the community — and even some folks who came to or through the area as they fled from Irma’s potential track — scoured stores’ shelves for water, bread and other essentials, and with good reason, there also were many others who came to the aid of others. When the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) relocated dozens of patients from Coastal Georgia to the old Southwestern State Hospital, donations of supplies flooded in. Cars were lined up to drop off supplies the patients and their families who came along might need. Even local stores provided cleaning supplies and other items. The outpouring was so great that state DBHDD officials had to ask people to stop bringing things.

The community was fortunate that Irma’s effects were not as bad originally forecast or as bad as they could have been. To the east in this state, areas of the coast were cut off for days.

But the preparation and the response, from all facets of the community, was exemplary. 

Though Irma did not bring the destruction it wreaked elsewhere, we are confident and glad that our community will be ready the next time a storm of that magnitude bears down on our area.