ATLANTA --- As traffic jams eased, crews continued to clean up debris and glass Tuesday from downtown Atlanta, and officials asked the federal government to provide aid quickly to help the city recover from the tornado that ripped through its core last weekend.
Tourism officials still have no estimates on how long it will take to repair the city's largest convention venue --- the Georgia World Congress Center --- which was damaged significantly in the Friday night storm, center spokeswoman Katy Pando said. All events scheduled at the 3.9 million-square-foot center this week were either canceled, postponed or relocated in the city, she said.
The tornado ripped through the roof of an exhibition hall in one building of the World Congress Center, leaving light fixtures, awnings, and pieces of the building's infrastructure dangling and exposed. Ms. Pando says debris removal will continue the rest of this week and repairs likely will begin next week.
Meanwhile, Georgia Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss urged President Bush on Tuesday to speed up the process for declaring Atlanta a federal disaster area. Gov. Sonny Perdue has said he's asked for an expedited process so that residents and businesses can get help with debris removal and recovery.
"There are certainly many areas that are going to need a helping hand, and it is imperative that the president approve this request so our communities can begin the rebuilding process," Mr. Chambliss said in a joint statement with Mr. Isakson.
A maze of closed roads downtown turned 20-minute commutes into hours on the road Monday, but most of those streets were open on Tuesday, said Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman Judy Pal. Georgia Department of Transportation officials say traffic patterns were basically normal on Tuesday with the usual backups during morning rush hour.
A few streets will remain closed this week and next as crews repair damaged buildings downtown and in the nearby neighborhood known as Cabbagetown, Ms. Pal said.
Weather officials have confirmed nine tornadoes hit the state Friday night and Saturday, killing two people, injuring at least 27 and knocking the power out to most of the city of Savannah for hours. The storms are the costliest in the state's history, racking up at least $250 million in damages, state officials said.
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