Brantley County wildfire survivors rebuild with community support, not government aid

BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Brantley County neighbors are starting to recover after the most destructive wildfire in Georgia state history.

“Everything’s kind of shifted to now: the cleanup,” said Tanya Tomanek, an organizer with Citizens United.

Tomanek has helped people like Kimberly “Lucky” Bragg after losing their entire homes.

“My brain’s been scattered ever since it’s happened…barely sleeping at night cause I still smell the smoke. I jump up every hour just to walk outside and see if it ain’t on fire, so it’s pretty much I’m brain scattered,” Bragg said.

Recovery without federal assistance

Bragg received a camper donated by a friend, a Brantley County resident. Locals who have been devastated by the fire are not relying on the government or outside help, instead relying on each other.

“The government’s shut down. We can’t get any money, so what are we supposed to do? We’re struggling,” Bragg said.

Despite that struggle, Bragg says she has turned away aid since she received the camper.

“We got each other, we got food, we’re good,” Bragg said.

Tomanek says Bragg is not the only member of the county that feels that way.

“They’re going to come together and do it on their own. That’s how they prefer to do it,” Tomanek said.

Community pride and developer concerns

The county with under 19,000 people is reacting with pride in what they have built and their love for their neighbors.

Now though, they worry about developers coming in and building.

“Brantley county’s not for sale…take your money and get out of here, we don’t want you,” Tomanek said.

“I’ve heard about that…I dare them to come to my land,” Bragg said.

The two say they have heard about it through their friends, and have not verified any names or projects yet.

For the time being, Bragg and the community will work together, leaning on one another, as they find the road back to normal life.