NWS: EF1 tornado touched down in Georgia

JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — Information from the National Weather Service survey crew says that an EF1 tornado touched down in the city of Jefferson in Jackson County early Thursday morning.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said the twister's winds reached 105 mph and traveled over three miles.

The storms moved in around 1 a.m. Thursday to parts of northwest Georgia and moved southeast.

In Jackson County, houses were damaged, trees were downed, roads were blocked and firefighters were going door to door to check on residents, Fire Chief Mark Duke told Channel 2's Audrey Washington.

"When I first heard the wind it sounded like a rumbling noise, next we heard shattering glass inside our home,” said resident Brian Norman.

Residents in Jefferson were ready for the storm but not for what it would leave behind.

"Knocked holes, knocked the facia boards off the sides of the house," Norman said.

Dozens of homes were damaged.

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"We know we have at least 25 to 30 homes that are damaged,” said Jefferson Fire Chief Mark Duke.

Crews worked Thursday to restore power and clean up.

"Jefferson Public Works is getting up, limbs and trees that are in the roadway,” Duke said. “State DOT has also been here working on their routes as well."

People in Jefferson said the extensive damage just proves what a powerful storm can do.

"It just goes to show you, it could happen anywhere,” Norman said.

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