Columbus: storms zap residents' electricity

Heavy rain and lightning storms cut electricity to some 10,000 Georgia Power customers in Columbus and the vicinity Monday night.

Two storms swept through the area; one drenched the town after 9 pm, cutting power to 2,000 residents, and a second thundered through at 4 am Tuesday affecting another 8,000.

Columbus Police Cap. J.D. Hawk said there were no reported injuries from the harsh weather, but added that trees were downed in many parts of the city.

Repair crews worked through the night to fix the damage, after heavy winds knocked down power lines and lightning strikes killed power in several areas throughout what Georgia Power calls the west Georgia region.

The storms affected 20 counties, with the main damage noted in Taylor, Crawford and Macon counties according to Georgia Power Spokesperson Konswello Monroe.

Monroe said crews are working to restore full service later today.

Click here for more information on reporting power outages.

Severe storms hit; planes delayed at Hartsfield

Severe storms are sweeping across much of north Georgia, generating heavy rain, hail and winds thatdowned trees and powerlines. Flights were delayed for up to 90 minutes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as dark gray clouds swirled in from the west. A possible tornado was reported in northwest Georgia's Chattooga County. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Peachtree Citywere so busy tracking the storms that they could not immediately confirm the twister. Georgia Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ken Davis says there's a report of three possible tornadoes striking in FranklinCounty, more than a 100 miles away in northeast Georgia. Heavy storms also pelted several counties south of Atlanta.

(Associated Press)

Tornado Warning Across N. Georgia (UPDATE)

---UPDATE:

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS EXITED WALKER COUNTY.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EST FOR MURRAY...SOUTHEASTERN WHITFIELD...GORDON AND NORTHERN BARTOW COUNTIES...

AT 545 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CHATSWORTH TO AUDUBON TO ADAIRSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ETON... REDBUD...RAMHURST...FARMVILLE...FORT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...FOLSOM...SONORAVILLE...OAKMAN...CARTERS...RANGER...FUNKHOUSER AND FAIRMOUNT.

---

A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5:45 PM EST FOR EASTERN CHATTOOGA AND FLOYD COUNTIES...

AT 524 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF TORNADO PRODUCING STORMS. THESE TORNADO PRODUCING

STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EVERETT SPRINGS TO ARMUCHEE TO ROME...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

A ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF A HOME NEAR HOLLAND! THIS IS A DANGEROUS LINE OF STORMS.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHANNON AND PINSON.

Click here for detailed National Weather Service updates.

One dead in overnight storms

Authorities say one person is dead in central Georgia after severe storms cut a swath through the state, downing trees and damaging homes and businesses in multiple counties.

Lisa Janak with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said other minor injuries have been reported after the early Sunday morning storms. Authorities have not yet identified the person who died in Dublin, which is just south of Macon.

Weather officials have not yet confirmed if any of the Georgia storms produced tornadoes.

Georgia Power officials say at least 80,000 residents are without electricity across the state, mostly concentrated in the metro Atlanta area and the Macon area.

The violent storm system that ripped through Georgia left at least 18 people dead in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri on Saturday.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of severe weather conditions statewide.

(The Associated Press)

On dead in overnight storms (updated 6PM)

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At least one person died after severe storms cut a swath through Georgia, downing trees and damaging homes and businesses in multiple counties.

Lisa Janak with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said one person died in Laurens, downgrading an earlier report of two fatalities.

Authorities had reported a second fatality in Kite earlier today. The status of the second reported fatality is unclear as of this posting.

Janek said 19 counties were affected, as of Sunday at 1 PM.

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert, declared a state of emergency in the city on Sunday at 09:40, and asked residents to stay home and off the streets. He said the majority of the damage was in the southern and western areas of the city, and asked residents to avoid those areas.

"The federal government will be moving hard to help," President Bush said in response to the storm damage. "I'll be in touch with the governors and offer all of the federal assistance we can."

Click here for more on that story.

The National Weather Service reports numerous cases of damage to homes, business and other structures in several counties from overnight storms. There were many reports of downed power lines and trees, as well.

At least 80,000 residents were without electricity across the state, as of Sunday morning, mostly concentrated in the metro Atlanta area and the Macon area, according to Georgia Power officials.

(with the Associated Press)

Several Georgia Counties Declared Disaster Areas

President Barack Obama has declared 18Georgia counties disaster areas following March storms. The action makes federal dollars available for people in South Georgia. In March severe storms struck the area causing tornado's, heavy rains, and eventually severe flooding.
The money can be used to help home and business owners make repairs, pay for temporary housing, and other things not covered by insurance. Some of the money will come in the form of grants, while other dollars will be available through low interest loans.
Farmers will also be eligible for help. Many were in the midst of planting when the storms hit and will have to replant their fields. The counties in the declaration area include; Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler, and Worth.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will work with residents, helping them to apply for help.

Storms could stifle commute

Storms are forecasted for north Georgia during tomorrow morning's commute. Forecasters expected up to 2 inches of rain starting around 6am. The forecast calls for damaging winds with a line of storms and says isolated tornadoes are possible. The stormy weather should reach Macon and Athens by midafternoon and hit the coast by sunset.

Congressman wants additional storm-damaged counties included in assistance request

A Georgia congressman wants Governor Sonny Perdue to request expedited federal assistance for counties in eastern Georgia damaged by this weekend's storms.

Only Atlanta and Fulton County made it to Perdue's request for expedited federal assistance.

But the storms wreaked havoc statewide.

And U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens) says Perdue should include 10 counties in the 10th congressional district in that request.

But officials with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency say they typically place the hardest hit area in the state on such a list.

They say it makes getting a disaster declaration for both Atlanta/Fulton County and other counties ravaged by the storm faster and easier, rather than assessing multiple counties at once.

"Those that are eligible can be added on in less complicated fashion than getting the initial one," says Ken Davis, a spokesman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. "Getting the initial declaration is the key."

State officials are still awaiting word on the status of the request.

Officials say they do not yet have a dollar amount on how much damage the storms caused statewide.

Storm update: thousands still without power

Sandy Springs: a police cruiser blocks traffic along Johnson Ferry Road, near a telephone pole and power lines that were downed by high winds late Sunday afternoon. There were no injuries or damage to homes or vehicles, according to Patrol Officer Swinson of the Sandy Springs Police Department. Similar scenes occurred along nearby Riverside Drive, and in other areas of metro Atlanta. (Dave Bender)

Thousands of Georgia residents, most in Macon, are still without power this morning in the wake of destructive storms that moved through the state early Sunday morning. A spokesman for Georgia Power says 45,000 customers are without electricity--most are in the Macon area, with about 1,600 in the metro Atlanta region. A meteorologist with the National Weather Service confirmed that at least six of the storms spawned tornadoes. That includes a twister that struck Laurens County and killed a resident. Bibb, Clayton, and Carroll counties were also especially hard-hit by storms and tornadoes. Governor Sonny Perdue late Sunday declared a state-of-emergency for six counties: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Jefferson, Johnson, and Laurens. Perdue is in the Macon area today to assess damage. Several areas of the state cancelled classes for students.

Perdue requests federal help for storm damage

Governor Sonny Perdue has requested the federal government for a major disaster declaration to help the city of Atlanta and Fulton County in its cleanup and repair efforts from last weekend's storms. An approval would provide federal funds for emergency response measures and aid for losses.

Perdue made the announcement Monday after concluding a tour of storm-affected areas in northwest Georgia. Polk, Floyd, and Bartow counties were hit by strong storms and tornadoes on Saturday. Two people were reported killed and at least 20 homes destroyed. Perdue says as damage assessments continue to come in, areas of NW Georgia could be added to the declaration request.

State insurance officials now say that the storms that hit Georgia over the past weekend are the most expensive in the state's history--hitting the mark of 250-million dollars. In Atlanta, where a tornado struck the downtown-area Friday night, the damage number is well over 150-million dollars alone.

Macon mayor declares 'state of emergency'

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert, declared a state of emergency in the city on Sunday at 09:40, as a result of severe storms overnight.

Reichert said that he faxed Governor Sonny Perdue, and requested that the state declare the affected areas a disaster area. He asked that rescue equipment and additional police forces be sent to the city.

Lisa Janak with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, said Perdue was appraised of the situation.

"The federal government will be moving hard to help," President Bush said. "I'll be in touch with the governors and offer all of the federal assistance we can."

Speaking with WMAZ tv, Reichert asked residents to stay home and off the streets. He also asked residents to avoid the southern and western parts of the city, where the majority of the damage occurred. He said that traffic lights in those areas were down, which had caused significant traffic snarls.

Reichert said one of the city's main water pumping stations was not working, due to a power outage. He asked residents to conserve water, not to shower, and close all faucets until emergency crews restored power.

He also asked that residents limit cellphone use, in order to allow emergency services access to frequencies, adding that the system in the area had collapsed from the overload.

Two people were killed from the storms in nearby areas.

Janek said one person died in Laurens. Authorities report another dead in Kite, from the storms. Authorities have not yet identified the fatalities.

Janek said 19 counties were affected.

Click here for more details on this story.

Strong storms moving into Georgia

There is severe weather moving into Georgia this morning--counties in extreme west Georgia are under a tornado watch until 10am this morning. Strong storms are expected to move from the northwest to the southeast, bringing 1-2 inches of rain. Forecasters warn the weather could be similar to that of last week, which caused 15-million dollars of damage to over a thousand homes--Carroll County was especially hard hit. Storms should reach Macon and Athens by mid-afternoon today, and then to the coast by sunset before moving out.

More storms predicted

An expert says more hurricanes than he expected could hit the Atlantic Ocean this year. Former Colorado State University climatologist William Gray says not 15 but 17 storms will brew this season. He says five of the hurricanes will be major. We are in the midst of hurricane season … which runs through the end of November.

State of emergency for Cherokee Co.

Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency for Cherokee County following Tuesday’s severe storms. The move allows state resources to help with cleanup efforts. State officials estimate the storms caused more than $5 million in damage. No serious injuries were reported.

Bush issues disaster declaration for Georgia

President Bush has approved Governor Sonny Perdue’s request for a federal disaster declaration for Georgia, following last weekend’s severe storms. The move provides federal assistance for clean up and recovery efforts statewide, with monetary federal aid immediately available for victims in Fulton County. State officials say they expect other counties affected by the storms will become eligible for aid once federal workers begin assessments around the state.

Tuesday storm damage estimates revised

State insurance officials have revised the estimate of damage done from Tuesday’s storms and tornadoes to 15-million dollars. Georgia’s insurance commissioner says now 13-hundred homes have some level of damage--from either broken windows to total losses. He says destruction was more severe than first reported in Carrollton and Bowdon. Two tornadoes were reported to have touched down in Carrollton Tuesday morning. Severe storms extended east through the metro Atlanta area.

Storm damage climbs to $135 million

The monetary toll from last week's storms that moved through Georgia has been put at 135-million dollars--and counting. That's the estimate from state officials. More than half of that number, comes from Sumter County alone. The state's Insurance Commissioner says the 135-million estimate covers 'insured losses' only, such as homes, autos, and commercial buildings. It does NOT include losses to utilities, and city and county damage to roads, bridges, and infrastructure. Governor Sonny Perdue had declared a state of emergency in nine counties.

In the wake of last week's storms, residents in the Americus-area don't have a hospital to go to right now. The 143-bed Sumter County Regional Hospital was hit by a twister that rolled through town. Officials are still looking at what can be salvaged with the building, and what would have to be leveled and rebuilt.

Severe storms knock-out power to 90K-plus in north Georgia

A strong line of thunderstorms moved into the state around 5:30 this morning, downing trees and knocking out power to over 90-thousand homes.

The storms moved in from Alabama through Carroll County and into the metro Atlanta area. They've moved into counties east of the metro Atlanta area, including the counties of Barrow, Walton, Banks, and Jackson.

A 75-county area in north and central Georgia is under a severe thunderstorm watch until noon today.

Drought, storms bringing deadly spiders to Chattahoochee Valley

Venomous Brown Widow spiders are being spotted in Georgia.

Pest control experts say the drought, a mild winter and storms on the coast are behind the spider's growth and migration to the area.

The Brown Widow is smaller and more reclusive than it's Black Widow relative.

But Jody Hubbell, an entomologist at Truetech Pest Control in Marietta says to watch out - it's venom packs a deadlier punch:

“They are related to the black widow spider, and, although they are non-aggressive, they actually have more potent venom.

"They do like to go to places like crawl spaces, garages, where there's a lot of clutter... one thing is that they can get into shoes; so it's advisable to check shoes before stepping in.”

Hubbell says the spider comes from Florida, and is also showing South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.

Middle Georgia Twisters

Strong storms swept through several Middle Georgia counties on Wednesday night causing widespread damage from high winds and possible tornadoes.
All across Middle Georgia there were reports of damage. Jasper, Putnam and Hancock County were the hardest hit. Eighty year-old Johnny Frank Baker of Hancock County died when his mobile home was destroyed. His daughter and grandchildren were injured. Lynda Reynolds lives in Hancock County and describes the damage.

"Just debris everywhere. There was a log home that was completely lifted off of the foundation and set back down with trees on top of it. Hickory Grove Church was completely destroyed."

The storm also caused a suspected tornado in Eatonton. Putnam County Sheriff Howards Sills says it completely destroyed a bar called, "Robert Parham's Place," with four people inside.

"Mr. Parham himself was in there. He got down beneath the bar and everything else is gone, but I guess that protected him. The other two people were missing for a short period of time but we found them pretty quick."

The line of storms also destroyed several buildings in Jasper County.