Waynesboro, Swainsboro join forces to aid residents
By Elizabeth Billips lizbillips@yahoo.com

Waynesboro councilmen took two steps to help Waynesboro residents in the case of natural disaster.

Last Monday, the city entered a mutual agreement with the City of Swainsboro to provide assistance in the case of floods, wildfires and other disasters.

"We've had this for a long time, but never in writing," administrator Jerry Coalson said, noting that assistance would come in the form of available personnel and equipment. "It doesn't affect our ISO (rating for insurance premium purposes), but in the end I think it's a good idea."

Councilmen also signed off on a resolution to adopt the Burke County Joint Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan.

The plan follows a year's worth of research which documents hardships in the county's past brought on by tornados, floods, droughts, wildfire, thunderstorms, tropical storms and hail.

The plan spells out a course of action were another disaster to occur, and its adoption will help residents qualify for federal disaster relief.