Public safety and utility crews fanned out across Northeast Georgia Saturday after severe storms rolled through the region. One man was killed when a tree fell on top of his car southeast of Lula.
In Habersham County, there were numerous reports of downed trees and power lines and a blown transformer that caused outages. Electrical service was still out late into the evening on the south end of the county.
Habersham County E-911 Assistant Director Melanie Ballinger said dispatchers also received reports that a tree fell on a vehicle and a house. She said there were no reports of any injuries.
Most of the damage in White County was on the south end of the county. Public Safety Director David Murphy said 10 to 15 trees were blown down in the storm, and one mobile home was damaged, but no injuries were reported.
Downed trees and power lines across Stephens County
In Franklin County, the Carnes Creek Fire Department and sheriff’s office urged drivers to “use caution” as crews worked to clear roadways.
“Multiple trees and power lines [are] down throughout the county,” a fire department official said. “All county and city units are busy trying to clear roadways and 911 is receiving multiple calls for more.”
The fire department ended its alert on social media with an appeal for the public to “Please be safe!”
At 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Franklin County Sheriff Scott Andrews issued an update, noting that deputies and first responders were still responding to reports of downed trees and power lines.
“We are encouraging you all to avoid traveling if possible. The majority of our main roads are clear. I am sure we still have some secondary roads that have not been reported as of yet,” he warned.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office echoed that caution, releasing photos of a downed tree on power lines with sheriff’s office personnel cutting back branches. The social media alert warned of road hazards “across the county.” It said the Stephens County E-911 center was receiving “an abundance of calls,” and asked people to be patient as first responders prioritize those calls.
“Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Toccoa Police Department officers, county and city public works, county fire services, and local power companies are responding to calls of trees and wires down across the county, as well as alarms,” the sheriff’s office said. “Please use caution, take alternate routes where necessary, and avoid traveling if possible.”
Hall County house fire may have been sparked by lightning
As the storm system rolled through, Hall County firefighters responded to a residential fire in the 5200 block of Frazer Road in Buford. Hall County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger said the first arriving units reported smoke coming from the top floor above the unattached garage.
She said firefighters quickly got the fire under control.
“The homeowners noted that a lightning strike hit their home during this evening’s thunderstorm just before the fire broke out,” said Ledsinger. The Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.
Fatal accident in Banks County
As previously reported, one man was killed when a tree crashed onto his car on Highway 51 in Banks County. The accident happened around 6:48 p.m. Saturday.
The Georgia State Patrol said 56-year-old Jason Keith Payne was eastbound on Hwy. 51 near Garrison Road when the accident happened. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols said Banks County personnel worked the fatal accident. He said they were also responding to “numerous calls for trees down” across Banks County.
Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed said the north end of the county “seems to be severely impacted.” He warned, “Roads may be blocked and unsafe,” and as the cleanup continued into the early hours Sunday, urged drivers to stay off the roads if possible.
Straight line winds
As officials continue assessing the storm’s impact, Now Habersham’s Tyler Penland says straight line winds of between 40-60 mph caused most of the damage.
Local EMCs and Georgia Power crews worked late into the night to restore electricity knocked out by the storm. Statewide, more than 73,000 customers, mostly in Northeast Georgia, were still without electricity in the early morning hours Sunday, according to FindEnergy.com.
If you are out on the roads Saturday evening into early Sunday, please watch for downed trees and power lines. Do not attempt to remove debris near where power lines are down, and treat all utility lines as though they are live.
Now Habersham will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as information becomes available.
