Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Georgia, April 3, 2000

Survey of damage by NWS personnel indicated that an F1 - F2 tornado, 50 - 100 yards wide, touched down in the Potash community at approximately 2:00 am EDT near Harmony Road. The tornado traveled approximately 6 miles with the terminating point just southwest of Cedartown. The tornado snapped off and uprooted several trees at its touchdown point on Harmony Road and caused a poultry house to lean as well as blowing off some of its tin roof. Next, a house on Blair Road was severely damaged and numerous trees were felled. Further downstream, several mobile homes and numerous trees were hit on Branch Road, Cornelius Road, and Highway 278 between Cornelius Road and Berry Road. The most severe damage was on Berry Road where two mobile homes were totally destroyed and 3 people seriously injured. The Polk county EMA director reported that a total a 6 people were injured, 2 seriously, and a total of 20 homes were destroyed or damaged. In addition, a roof was blown off a fruit/vegetable stand on Highway 27 south of Cedartown, but this did not appear to be related to the tornado. In excess of 1 million dollars damage was caused by the tornado.

Strong to severe thunderstorms dumped very heavy rain in about an hour over the area. Floyd county 911 and a HAM operator reported flash flooding in Rome. Some homes in low areas and the lower level of the Floyd Medical Center were evacuated. Some cars were trapped on roads due to rapidly rising waters.

The Bartow county 911 office reported flooding of roads and low areas throughout the county.

An off-duty NWS employee reported trees down in Chapel Hill and the Douglas county sheriff's office reported trees down in Fairplay.

Sight survey by an NWS employee showed a downburst or straightline winds caused damage in southern Cobb county. Damage was first noted on Allen Road where new homes under construction were damaged as the wind collapsed the framing. Roofs were pretty much intact but were lying on the ground. About 4 other homes were heavily damaged. Another house was moved a foot or 2 off its foundation but was still intact. Numerous trees were snapped off or uprooted along a path to the northeast from Lakeshore Drive to near Bankhead highway, but they were all laying in the same direction. Most damage to homes was due to falling trees.

A survey by the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency and a National Weather Service Disaster Survey Team showed that an F0 - F1 tornado traveled along a path almost 7 miles long through southeast Cherokee county. The damage path began just west of the intersection of Highway 140 and Pinyan Rd. It crossed the intersection of East Cherokee Dr. and Bart Manous Road, where it was 252 feet wide. It then tracked northeast across Thomas Road, where it was 500 feet wide, across Union Hill Road where it was 590 feet wide, and ended 204 yards north of Collect Drive where it was 235 feet wide. Almost 30 homes were hit, with 3 houses sustaining extensive damage, and nine outbuildings were destroyed. Large trees were uprooted along the path and 7 roads in the county had to be closed because of fallen trees and debris. Total estimated damage was $1.1 million.

Emergency Management and an NWS Storm Survey team reported that a severe thunderstorm produced damage along a 4 mile path from near the intersection of Sever Road and Highway 120, to near the intersection of highways 20 and 124 near the commuinity of Allendale. Most of the damage was due to straight line winds, but there were signs of an intermittent F0-F1 tornado touchdown. Three homes were completely destroyed. Approximately 80 homes were damaged, 15 to 20 of which sustained major damage. In addition, numerous trees and powerlines were reported down, and vehicles were damaged along the storm path. Most of the damage took place in three subdividions; Olde Peachtree Station, which bore the brunt of the damage, Collins Heights, and Jacksons Township. Damage was also reported to the roof of the Motorola Corporation at 1700 Belle Meade Ct. Damage was estimated at $1.5 million.

The public reported trees down in the Cumming area. Marble size hail and winds estimated at 50 mph were also reported.

Over 1.3 inches of rain from a strong to severe thunderstorm produced localized street flooding on Nicholson Road in Cumming. The Etowah River left its banks in a low spot, which stranded one motorist's car.

Spalding county 911 center reported trees down in Griffin.

Spalding county 911 center reported dime size hail in Griffin.

Hall county 911 reported trees down in Lula. A sheriff's deputy had reported a funnel cloud a few minutes earlier from the same storm.

Barrow county 911 reported trees knocked down which damaged 2 buildings.

Jackson county 911 reported roof damage to a mobile home near Arcade.

A surge of energy from a bolt of lightning traveled from a satellite dish through the wiring of a house and caused damage to the house's underpinnings. A resident felt the floor becoming hot, but the fire department responded so quickly that the fire never caused any extensive damage to the home.

Polk county 911 reported minor street flooding due to heavy rain and poor drainage.

A HAM Radio operator reported trees down on power lines in LaGrange, and 3 inch diameter limbs down on a house near the Troup/Heard county line.

The public reported the tin roof blown off a barn.

Sight survey by NWS employees, together with newspaper and public reports, confirmed an F0 to F1 tornado touched down in northeastern PIke county near the intersection of Gresham Road and Kendrick Road. It crossed the extreme northwest corner of Lamar county and moved into extreme southeast Spalding county before lifting. The storm path had a total length of approximately 7.5 miles and an average width of 50 yards, but was occasionally as wide as 100 yards. Four homes sustained damage. Most observed damage was shingles blown off roofs or fallen trees and limbs on houses.

As the storm continued from Pike county across the extreme northwest corner of Lamar county, large tree limbs were knocked down on another house. One man was injured when struck by a falling tree limb on Vaughn Road. Sections of a fence were torn down and other trees and debris were found in a converging pattern caused by a rotating storm.

The storm weakened as it left Lamar county and the tornado lifted shortly after entering the extreme southeast part of Spalding county. The largely rural area sustained very little damage, mainly to trees and tree limbs, but the same converging pattern of debris was noted.