Newnan tornado survivor recalls how chief meteorologist Glenn Burns’ warning saved her life

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Severe Weather Team 2 is on a mission to make sure Georgians are weather aware.

Throughout the decades, storm survivors have expressed their gratitude to Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns and the team for saving their lives. Channel 2′s Wendy Corona has one survivor’s story.

“I really thought it was the end,” Elizabeth Graves said.

It’s a nightmare etched in Graves’ mind: The night a tornado devastated Newnan in Coweta County.

“It was the most horrific sound I’ve ever heard my whole life.”

Graves’ boyfriend John had gone to bed, but she stayed up watching Severe Weather Team 2 track the approaching storm.

“He (Glenn) said it’s coming down Franklin Road, it’s coming straight towards Newnan, it’ll be at Newnan in 4 or 5 more minutes,” she said. “He kept going on about it’s coming and I thought ‘Oh my gosh it’s coming straight for us.’”

Graves rushed to wake up her boyfriend and told him they needed to take cover. They got in their safe space while her phone was blowing up for weather app alerts.

“It kept making noises and it was him on there, Glenn Burns, saying ‘Take cover it’s coming up from Franklin Highway. It’s coming straight to Newnan.’ And that’s us. I knew it was gonna get us,” she said.

RELATED STORIES

• Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns announces his retirement after 40 years at WSB-TV
• Read Glenn Burns’ letter to Channel 2 viewers about his retirement, career
• PHOTOS: Glenn Burns through the years

Graves, her boyfriend and their miniature dachshund then rode out the storm.

“I asked God please. I just kept saying, ‘Please God, please God, please God.’ That’s what I said over and over and over. I just, I thought about my daughter, my son.”

They all made it out alive, but their home was destroyed. Graves is still feeling the effects.She’s now terrified of storms and has this message for everyone.

“My thoughts are listen, listen and react now, act now, don’t wait, when they say it’s time to take cover, take cover,” Graves said.

“Being able to portray to the folks, you know, I’m concerned about it and I’m forecasting it and you’re going to be OK. Because we’re going to track this and we’re going to let you know where it’s going so you can take cover,” Burns said. “I think really that that helped the public really reduce a lot of life lost in that area.”

It’s a reminder of the critical mission of Severe Weather Team 2: to keep people safe.

“It sends chills, actually.”

That was Glenn’s reaction when he was told how people credit him and Severe Weather Team 2 with saving their lives.

“You are saving lives. I’ve been here 15 years. 15 years. And I can not even count how many times I’ve heard. I turned on the TV and Glenn Burns was on the TV and Glenn said, Take cover now. And my life was saved. I mean, you are like a superhero,” Graves said.

Join us Sunday Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. for a primetime special, Celebrating Glenn Burns: 40 Years. The special will take a look at his most memorable moments, family stories and what he has planned for the future.

1 year later, parts of Newnan still recovering from devastating tornado Channel 2's Berndt Petersen went to Timberland Trail, one of the hardest hit areas.

©2022 Cox Media Group