EF-1 tornado tore through parts of local area, including hospital campus a year ago

Published 11:15 am Tuesday, March 26, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: This another story in a series of stories remembering the one-year anniversary of an EF-1 tornado that hit parts of Milledgeville and Baldwin County on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

When an EF-1 tornado tore through parts of Milledgeville and Baldwin County a year ago today (Tuesday) March 26, 2023, its first target was Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin hospital.

Each building on the campus was damaged.

They all sustained extensive roof damage resulting in major leaks from the heavy rain that accompanied the tornado and packed speeds of better than 100 mph.

A year later, hospital officials still have not disclosed the cost of the damages sustained at the local hospital resulting from the tornado.

There were no injuries to any of the patients or staff at the hospital when the tornado roared across the area.

The fierce winds blew down awnings, signage, fencing and trees throughout the campus.

Thomas Goss, the new chief operating officer at the hospital, recently talked with The Union-Recorder about the tornado.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been a year as we come upon that one-year mark,” Goss said.

Baldwin County Emergency Management Director Wayne Johnson said based on the damages that the hospital encountered he was surprised that not one person was injured there or anywhere else in the city or the county.

“We were very, very fortunate we didn’t have any injuries or deaths associated with that tornado,” Johnson said.

Another plus was the fact that hospital staff didn’t miss a beat.

“We are extremely blessed that the operations and team continued to function through the tornado, and were able to continue with services and patient care without any major interruptions at all,” Goss said. “I think that goes to the dedication of the team here because the teammates here are also members of the community here. They are deeply dedicated to the community and that dedication just transcends when they are here at the hospital as well.”

Goss said he was very pleased that hospital staff members on duty at the time the tornado hit provided a positive experience for not only the patients but for each other as teammates.

“I think anytime you face a challenge like that and you are in a health care setting, with my previous experience as a paramedic and a trauma nurse, it’s about staying focused,” Goss said. “It’s about remaining calm during an emergency situation.”

The staff in the emergency department at the hospital continued caring for patients who came to the hospital for various reasons — none of which were associated with the tornado.

“We are excited about the repairs that have been made since then,” Goss said.

Awnings, including one at the front main entrance of the hospital, were ripped down by the strong winds the tornado unleashed.

Goss said the awnings have now been replaced.

“They really look good, not only the ones on the front, but on the side of the building, and the awnings up at the cancer treatment building,” he said. “We’re excited about all the awnings having been replaced.”

Goss said a lot of the damages that the hospital incurred were damages that were not visible.

“About 98% of the roofing was affected in some form or another and all of that has now been completed on the facility,” Goss said. “And we’re very excited about that.”

He said Skyline of Eatonton was most instrumental in completing that part of the repairs at the hospital.

Goss said in the three months that he has been in his new position, he had merely made sure that the roof project and new awnings were now completed.

Debris was scattered throughout the campus, and signage was ripped away from entrance and exit areas, as well traffic signs.

The winds also knocked down trees around the hospital’s walking trail on the front lawn.