Severe weather damage hits three states this week: Florida, Alabama and Georgia. All three states got slammed Wednesday night and early this morning. Residents affected in Florida and Alabama were fortunate in that there were no personal injuries in Florida and the worse personal injuries in Alabama were minor scrapes and scratches. Georgia residents were not that lucky. Several people were injured in Georgia, two suffering serious injuries that required they be taken to the hospital.
Severe weather damage hits three states this week: Florida, Alabama and Georgia. All three states got slammed Wednesday night and early this morning. Residents affected in Florida and Alabama were fortunate in that there were no personal injuries in Florida and the worse personal injuries in Alabama were minor scrapes and scratches. Georgia residents were not that lucky. Several people were injured in Georgia, two suffering serious injuries that required they be taken to the hospital.
A state-by-state breakdown follows:
Florida
Officials confirmed the damage caused in Pasco County was caused by a tornado, likely a category EF-0. One news release reported that a large tree fell on one home and another had its aluminum roof torn off.
There were sporadic power outages and multiple homes damaged along the state’s Gulf coast when the storms tore through the Tampa Bay area. Pasco County spokesperson Doug Tobin reported that the county had 19 homes and businesses with “minor damage,” a tree on a car, one damaged garage door, demolished car ports and five businesses and homes with structural damage. Further reports included downed power lines and blocked roads.
Three townhouses were reported as damaged in Clearwater.
Alabama
Severe storms hit central Alabama last night and early this morning, causing property damage and minor injuries.
Gerald Satterwhite of the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that there were quite a few damaged trailer homes in Montgomery County. He said that, though there was some rotation present in the storm, it was difficult to determine if that damage was due to high-speed straight-line winds or tornadic activity.
Some roads were blocked by downed trees, but crews were on the scene removing them.
Georgia
NWS meteorologist Jeff Fournier said he was fairly certain that the damage incurred in Calhoun County early this morning was caused by a tornado, though authorities have yet to confirm it. The storm caused a great deal of property damage and several personal injuries, some serious.
According to Mr. Fournier, two of the most serious injuries happened when a trailer home in Dickey was completely destroyed. The two residents were conscious, but needed to be taken to the hospital. Many other, less serious, injuries were incurred when the storm hit Edison overturning several trailer homes in that community. Mr. Fournier said the NWS wants to send a storm team to investigate the area today.
Several power lines and trees were brought down by the storm, as well.
Powerful thunderstorms hit the metro Atlanta area and downed trees there.
UPDATE: According to the NWS, 13 confirmed tornadoes wreaked havoc in Florida, Alabama and Georgia late Wednesday & early Thursday. Two of them were EF-2s with wind speeds estimated at up to 130mph and a 15.9-mile long path. Others were rated EF-0s with top wind speeds pushing 65mph.
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