Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Georgia, November 24, 2004

The Rome News Tribune reported that two portions of Old Dalton Highway, northeast of Rome, collapsed because of heavy rain and flash flooding. The collapsed road resulted in injuries to three people, all of whom drove their vehicles past barricades and into the large hole that had developed.

The Bremen Police Department reported that many trees were blown down in the Bremen area. In addition, a front porch and back patio were blown off a home.

The Heard County 911 Center reported that five barns were destroyed from high winds in Ephesus and a portion of a roof was blown off a mobile home in Texas. A 10 foot by 10 foot metal shed was also carried away from its foundation. Another residence sustained some roof damage, while at another residence an outdoor trampoline blown one-half mile away. In addition, a number of trees were down in Ephesus. A possible tornado was reported in the Ephesus area, but there was never any confirmation of this report.

The Polk County 911 Center reported that several trees were down, some on power lines.

The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that a residential fire was caused by a lightning strike.

The Harris County 911 Center reported that many trees were down throughout the county.

The Times/Heard of Newnan and the public reported that strong straight-lined thunderstorm winds blew down dozens of trees and power lines throughout the county. Several roads had to be closed for a period of time, including Interstate 85 near Exit 41. A home on Lower Fayetteville Road was damaged and two barns were destroyed at a farm on Smokey Road southwest of Newnan. The damage to the barns resulted in the loss of two livestock that were inside one of the barns. In Newnan, a resident reported that the wind removed a metal storage shed from its foundation.

The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported extensive damage to trees in the Temple area. More than 25 large trees were blown down in the area. Three homes, two vehicles, and at least fifteen power lines sustained damage from downed trees. In addition, a commercial barn was damaged when the tin roof was ripped off the structure from the high winds. One road was also temporarily blocked from a downed tree. One resident in the area reported observing a tornado in the area. The Emergency Management Director noted that several trees were twisted off about 30 feet above the ground in this area, however there was no actual confirmation of a tornado in the area.

The Troup County 911 Center and the La Grange News reported that several trees were down in and around the city. In addition, one tree was down on a home.

The Bartow County Emergency Management Director reported that three trees were blown down.

The Douglas County Emergency Management Director reported that power lines were down in the northwest part of the county and from 30 to 40 trees were blown down within a one-mile radius of downtown Lithia Springs.

The Fulton County 911 Center reported that a large tree fell on a power line and also blocked a portion of Ridge Road just south of Georgia Highway 92. In Palmetto, several large tree limbs were blown down and knocked out an electrical transformer at Cobb and Crawford Streets.

The Meriwether County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were blown down.

The Pickens County 911 Center reported that around six trees were blown down, scattered about the county.

The Pike County 911 Center reported that a few trees were blown down around the county.

A damage survey conducted by the Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that dozens of trees were blown down in a rural area near Pine Log Mountain in northwest Cherokee county. The damage was a result of strong straight-lined winds.

The Fayette County Emergency Management Director reported widespread and extensive damage to trees, power lines, homes and vehicles as a result of straight-lined winds or possibly a microburst. Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 70 mph in some parts of the county. This information was confirmed by other sources, including the public, the county 911 center, and observations of employees at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, as well as a followup aerial survey. Dozens of large trees, many of which were pines, were either uprooted or blown down all across the county, causing damage to homes, vehicles, power lines, and blocking several roads. The most extensive damage occurred across the southern and eastern parts of the county, from the south end of Peachtree City, to Starrs Mill, to Woolsey. At least 30 homes sustained extensive damage when large trees, mostly pine, fell on the structures. A number of roads were blocked, including portions of Georgia Highway 74 in Peachtree City, Georgia Highway 92 south of Fayetteville, and portions of McBride, Redwine, and County Line Roads. Power lines were brought down all over the county leaving many residents of the county without power for 12 or more hours. Peachtree City suffered the most monetary damage with well over $325,000 in damage to homes. Two subdivisions, Clearbrook Estates and Bonaventure Estates, on the southeast side of Fayetteville along Jeff Davis Drive, sustained over $250,000 in damages. The Rebecca Lakes subdivision in Fayetteville sustained another $245,000 in damages, with over $100,000 in unincorporated Fayette county (mostly in the Starrs Mill to Woolsey area), and around $36,000 in the city of Fayetteville. In addition, a portion of a roof and door of a hanger at Falcon Field Airport in Peachtree City also sustained substantial damage.

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director and associated personnel conducted a damage survey and found a broken path of extensive damage to trees, power lines, structures, and vehicles across central Cherokee county from 6 miles west of Canton to 2.5 miles east of Canton, mostly along and near Georgia Highway 20. Most of the damage was consistent with strong straight-lined winds, with the possible exception of one small area in downtown Canton along Chamblee Street where possible F0 tornado damage was observed. The damage path began near the intersection of Fields Chapel Road and Sweet Water Creek Trail west of Canton where mostly tree damage was observed The damage path continued through the Field Stone Subdivision, where extensive damage to homes and trees was observed. Many homes in this area suffered major damage when large oak trees fell on the structures. Siding was blown off some of the homes and several vehicles in the area were destroyed when large trees fell on them. The damage path then continued eastward along Oak Dale Road in Canton, where several more homes, vehicles, and out buildings were damaged and a number of trees were blown down. In addition, the softball facility at the Cherokee County High School Complex suffered major damage when the roof of the dugout was blown off and 200 feet of a chain link fence was flattened. The damage then continued to Main Street and Brown Street in Canton, where a large downed tree crushed and destroyed 11 vehicles. Shortly beyond this point is where the possible F0 tornado occurred. The damage then continued east of Canton terminating in the Brooke Park Development, where again dozens of large trees were blown down onto homes and vehicles. All together, 115 homes sustained damage, 10 of which incurred major damage, 13 vehicles were destroyed, three others sustained some damage, and 8 outbuildings were damaged, of which four were destroyed.

The public reported that the damage path to trees and homes that began in eastern Fayette county to two subdivisions along Jeff Davis Drive southeast of Fayetteville, continued into Clayton county. Strong straight-lined winds blew down dozens of trees and damaged some homes in a subdivision near the Flint River along North Bridge/Hampton Road. Other damage was reported to trees along Heritage and Panhandle Drives. At least 10 trees were blown down just within one block. The gutters were ripped off another house by the strong winds.

The public and an amateur radio operator reported widespread damage to trees and power lines throughout the county. Some of the worst damage was along and near Georgia Highway 20 between Hampton and McDonough. Portions of the highway were blocked and closed from downed trees. Several trees had fallen on and caused damage to homes in the area as well. Trees were also down in the Lakeview Subdivision on Mundy's Mill Road. In addition, a billboard was down on Interstate 75 between exits 218 and 221.

The Fulton County 911 Center reported that several trees and some power lines were down on Roswell Road just south of Interstate 285.

The public and the Dawson County 911 Center reported that a good number of trees and several power lines were down across the county. The worst damage was in the area from the northwest part of the county to around Dawsonville.

The Spalding County Emergency Management Director reported that a tree fell on the porch of a home on Lyndsey Road.

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that a couple of trees were down in Cumming. The public reported that one tree was down near Young Deer.

The Gwinnett County Emergency Management Director reported that a number of trees and several power lines were down from Lawrenceville to Snellville. Two homes suffered significant damage when large trees fell on the structures. A large hardwood tree fell through a home in Lawrenceville. A woman inside was injured when falling debris struck her in the head. A Chevy Impala and a pickup truck in the driveway were also damaged. Another tree fell on a house in Snellville, causing significant damage to that home as well. Two cars in the garage of that home were also damaged. Around 300 residents in the county were left without power for several hours following the storms.

The Hall County Emergency Management Director reported that a home on Camp Spring Drive suffered extensive damage from strong thunderstorm wind gusts. Half of the roof was blown off the home and the garage collapsed. At another location, namely Georgia Highway 60 South, a 100 by 50 foot storage building was destroyed. Many trees were blown down throughout the Gainesville area.

The Walton County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were blown down.

The Jackson Electric Membership Cooperative reported many trees and power lines down throughout the county. Power outages in the county were widespread.

The Morgan County Fire Department and Rescue Squad reported that the tin roof was partially blown off a barn. In addition, several trees were also down in the area.

The White County 911 Center reported that a tree fell on a house causing damage to the gutters.

The public reported that a few trees were down in the southern portion of the county.

The Houston County 911 Center reported that a few trees were blown down, including some on Sam Nunn Boulevard.

The Peach County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were blown down near Georgia Highway 96.

The Banks County 911 Center reported that many trees were blown down around six miles north of Homer. The Greer, South Carolina National Weather Service Forecast Office reported that a tree fell on the Banks/Franklin county line near Interstate 85, causing damage to a cell tower located in Franklin county.

The Clarke County 911 Center reported that an extensive number of trees were down in a small area just west of Athens.

The Bibb County 911 Center reported widespread damage to trees in the Macon area. In the southern part of the county, a few trees were also blown down.

The Oconee County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were blown down on U.S. Highway 78 near Bogart.

The Oglethorpe County 911 Center reported that a few trees were down, scattered about the county.

The Macon Telegraph reported that several trees were blown down around the county.

The Rayle Electric Membership Cooperative reported that several trees were down on power lines along Georgia Highway 77.

The Taliaferro County 911 Center reported that one tree was blown down.

The Washington County 911 Center reported that a few trees were down on Georgia Highway 15 on the north side of Sandersville and a few trees were also down in Tennille, including one which was down on Tennille Road.

The Laurens County 911 Center reported that a few trees were blown down.