Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, February 16, 2001

The Haralson county Emergency Management Director and the Haralson Gateway Beacon newspaper reported extensive damage throughout the county caused by strong thunderstorm winds. On Estavanko Loop, outside Buchanan, a tree crashed through the residence of a home. In Buchanan, on Macedonia Church Road, the roof was blown off one of the buildings at the Tallatoona Head Start educational facility. At the Big Oak RV Park, near Interstate 20 and Georgia Highway 100, near Tallapoosa, a tree fell on a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck. In Bremen, a roof was blown off a beauty shop adjacent to a residence while in nearby Waco, a tree fell on the newly completed fellowship hall at the Waco Baptist church. In Tallapoosa trees were reported down at several residences, two of which fell on homes causing structural damage. Numerous trees, many of which were large oaks, were reported down throughout the county.

The Polk county Emergency Management Director reported that numerous trees were blown down on power lines and phone lines throughout the county.

The Polk county 911 center reported several trees down in Rome and a few other locations around the county.

The Polk county Emergency Management Directory reported that lightning set a house on fire. The specific amount of damage was unknown.

The public reported several large pine trees snapped off in Dallas and trees were down on Georgia Highway 92 at Hiram and were blocking traffic in the area. An amateur radio operator estimated winds of 80 mph three miles west of Dallas with debris noted in the area.

A National Weather Service cooperative observer reported quarter to half-dollar size hail.

Numerous reports of strong winds were received from the public in the Acworth, Powder Springs, and Marietta areas. At Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, wind gusts were measured at 77 mph at 1827 EST. Trees were reported down in numerous locations. In Marietta one tree fell on a house and another fell on a car and cracked the windshield. At an apartment complex in on Woodlands Drive in Smyrna, three trees were down, two of which were uprooted. Power companies serving the area reported numerous tree limbs down on power lines throughout the county resulting in widespread power outages and interruptions.

A storm spotter, who estimated winds at 70 mph, reported damage to a gas station in Douglasville. The public reported that one tree was down and pieces of a tin roof were blown off a barn about halfway between Douglasville and Lithia Springs. Other reports of tree limbs down were received from areas just south of Douglasville.

The Bartow county 911 center reported that a few trees were blown down in Cartersville.

An amateur radio operator reported trees down on Georgia Highway 166 in Carrollton and Villa Rica. The public reported a large 50 foot billboard broken in half by the wind at exit 5 on Interstate 20 near Villa Rica.

The public reported nickel size hail in Marietta. The hail, when combined with strong 50 mph or greater winds, broke a window in a house. In Acworth, dime size hail was reported.

The Cherokee county Emergency Management Director reported that glass was blown out of a building in Woodstock injuring four people. Two trees were blown down on a car, and numerous other trees were blown down in the Woodstock area, many on power lines. An amateur radio operator reported that traffic signals were blown down on Georgia Highway 92 at Interstate 575. Much of the damage occurred near Georgia Highway 92.

The Coweta county 911 center reported 3 to 4 small pine trees blown down across the county.

The Roswell police reported several trees down, some of which were on power lines. Another report was received from the public in Roswell of small trees down. Other trees were reported down on Park Bridge Road and Old Milton Parkway. The public reported 20 pine trees snapped off, some at the base, some at the middle, and some at the top, about 9 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta. Some of the trees were thrown some 100 feet to the east.

The public reported 15 large oak and pine trees blown down in extreme western Forsyth county at Ducktown near the Cherokee county line. In addition, a tin roof was ripped off a barn. All of the debris was blown toward the east. In southeast Forsyth county, 4 miles northwest of Brookwood, the county Emergency Management Director reported several trees and power lines were blown down. One tree was reported to be down on a house.

The public reported trees and power lines down throughout the county. In Lawrenceville, a steel shed was blown off its foundation and landed on a fence

The public reported that trees were blown down and trash dumpsters were blown over on Mount Zion Road.

The public reported quarter to golf ball size hail on Mount Zion Road.

The De Kalb county 911 center reported trees and power lines down all across the county. Two trees were blown down on homes. In the Chamblee-Tucker area, winds were estimated at 70 to 80 mph.

The Hall county 911 center reported trees and power lines down throughout the county.

The Jackson county 911 center reported that some trees and power lines were blown down in the extreme northern part of the county in the Maysville area.

The Banks county 911 center reported that a barn was destroyed and several trees were blown down in the extreme south central part of the county near Maysville and the Jackson county line.

The Henry county 911 center reported trees and power lines down in the far northwest corner of the county in the Fairview subdivision.

The Dawson county 911 center reported numerous trees down on Georgia Highway 136 and Georgia Highway 400 in Dawsonville.

A storm spotter reported that power lines and trees were blown down in Conyers. A local sheriff reported seeing a tornado in the area, but there was no confirmation of a tornado touchdown.

The Barrow county 911 center reported that trees and power lines were down throughout the county.

The Newton county 911 center and the Covington News reported that part of a roof was blown off the Starrsville United Methodist Church on Dixie Road. Rain ruined the carpet inside and the organ and electric piano also sustained damage. In Covington, a large sign was blown out at the Newton Federal Savings and Loan. Throughout the county, there were many reports of trees down and trees down on power lines.

The Walton county 911 center reported some trees and power lines down across the western part of the county.

The Clarke county 911 center reported that trees and power lines were down across the county.

The Morgan county 911 center reported that trees and power lines were down throughout the county.

The Jasper county 911 center reported that three trees were blown down just north of Hillsboro.

The Madison county 911 center reported that two trees were blown down across Georgia Highway 72 between Hull and Colbert. In addition, some road construction barrels were also blown over in the same area.

The Oconee county 911 center reported that in two separate incidents a tree was knocked down on a home. A storm spotter reported that some small limbs were broken off trees in North High Shoals at the intersection of Georgia Highway 186 and New High Shoals Road.

The Greene county 911 center reported that trees and power lines were down throughout the county. In one instance, a tree had fallen on a mobile home.

The Oglethorpe county 911 center reported trees and power lines down throughout the county.

The Butts county 911 center reported 2 trees down, one on a power line.