Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Coordinates Damage Assessment Team Visit to Americus, March 12-14, to Start Tornado Recovery Efforts on Historic Structures

ATLANTA, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today they are partnering to send a team of architects and engineers to Americus, Ga., early next week to assess the damage and help initiate recovery efforts on historic houses and buildings damaged by the March 1 tornado that struck the area.

The building assessment team, which is funded in part by a $4,000 grant from the National Trust, will be in Americus for three days, Monday, Mar. 12 through Wednesday, Mar. 14.

The team includes Laura Moore and Teresa Hartle of Willett Engineering in Tucker; architect David Steele from OJP/Architect of Atlanta; Kent Sole, chair of the Americus Historic Preservation Commission; and Americus architect Meda Krenson, who also is co-chair of the Americus Historic Preservation Commission.

"The vast majority of the 470 houses in the Americus historic district and a number of other historic buildings and houses throughout the community have sustained damage and damage is extensive at the historic Oak Grove Cemetery," said Greg Paxton, President and CEO of The Georgia Trust.

"The team will offer advice to home and building owners on preservation techniques to effectively repair storm damage," Paxton said. "Our goal is to help homeowners and building owners to expediently and effectively make repairs and return to some sense of normalcy."

Paxton said current plans call for the team to hold a workshop on Tuesday evening in Americus which will include participation a Federal Emergency Management Agency representative, an associate of the National Trust who specializes in insurance of historic properties, and Evan Thibeault who offers design assistance for The Georgia Trust.

The Tuesday workshop is scheduled for 6 p. m. at the Public Safety Building, 119 South Lee Street, downtown Americus.

The Trust is coordinating the assessment team's activities with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division and the state's Department of Community Affairs' Office of Downtown Development as well as city and state officials in Americus.

"While our current focus is on Americus, we're equally concerned with damage to historic structures in all nine Georgia counties that have been declared a disaster area by President Bush and Governor Perdue," Paxton said. We're seeking to identify damaged historic resources and coordinate with the other agencies to assist efforts throughout the state.

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is the country's largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organization with more than 8,000 members. The Trust is a recipient of the Trustees Award for Organizational Excellence from the National Trust. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is the country's leader in historic preservation. The Trust's Web site is www.georgiatrust.org.

Source: The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

CONTACT: Greg Paxton, President & CEO, Office Phone, , or Cell, , or , or Harry Hollingsworth, Sr. Dir., Communication, Office Phone, , or Cell, , or , both of The Georgia Trust; or For Americus: Meda Krenson, , or Cell, ; or Angela Davis, Community Development Director of the City of Americus, Office Phone, , or

Web site: http://www.georgiatrust.org/