ATLANTA — At least one person was killed and numerous trees are down across metro Atlanta after at least one tornado moved through the area Monday morning.
The storms left thousands without power across metro Atlanta and flooded numerous roads.
Here’s a round up of the damage:
Douglas County:
The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado carved a 1.5-mile path through Douglas County Monday morning. The storm had winds of up to 90 mph and was 250 yards wide. Officials are still working to determine if any other tornadoes touched down in other parts of metro Atlanta.
The Douglas County tornado earlier today has been surveyed. It was a confirmed EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds and a path 250 yards wide, 1.5 miles long.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) May 3, 2021
Channel 2 Action News has learned that a person was killed in Douglasville when a tree fell on a car on Campbellton Street. The victim has been identified as Scott Hudson, a beloved restaurant owner.
One dead in Douglasville. Tree fell on SUV during the storm. Gathering more info for @wsbtv. pic.twitter.com/nDogpLnOO5
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) May 3, 2021
Just after 10:30 a.m., Severe Weather Team 2 saw a strong debris signature on radar just southwest of Atlanta, which meant a tornado was likely on the ground. The storm moved through areas of South Fulton County and southwest Atlanta before weakening as it moved into DeKalb County.
South Fulton County
Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston was at an industrial complex near Westgate Parkway, where several businesses were damaged. The back wall of Cosgrove Enterprises warehouse blew out, leaving cinder blocks scattered on the ground.where the side of a warehouse was sheared off the building. Numerous trees were snapped like twigs and downed limbs littered the parking lot.
So far, there are thankfully no reports of injuries.
Amanda Flowers told Huddleston that one of her company’s vendors had to ditch his car to run for cover.
“He literally had to run to our building for cover,” Flowers said. She said they had a tornado warning, but only had seconds to get to safety.
“We all went into the bathroom and kind of huddled down, and it was literally the stereotype of ‘you hear the train’,” Flowers said. “And we could hear the train for like a full 60 seconds. It was intense.”
Reginald Vaughn said his car was damaged, and so were several others in the parking lot.
“Half of this came off our roof, and then over there, a sheet,” Vaughn said. “Half of their roof landed on their cars, so that’s why half of their cars is totaled.”
Warehouse workers said they now have the difficult task of salvaging what they can, and trying to find another place to put it -- all while trying to keep everyone safe from COVID.
Southwest Atlanta
Channel 2′s Tom Regan was on Cascade Drive, where there were numerous trees down in the Guilford Forest Subdivision. A large tree crushed the roof of one home.
Resident Jamee Ashmon said it was scary, but her family is OK. Ashmon said the air was strangely still minutes before the likely tornado started roaring around her home.
“Lightning, then we heard winds and immediately, everyone to the basement,” Ashmon said. “As we went down the stairs, the house began to shake.”
Thaddeus Ashmon said the strangest sight for him was when the destructive wind grabbed and tossed their large trampoline.
“We saw the trampoline though the window go through the yard at the time,” Thaddeus Ashmon said. “I don’t know if it was a car, we just saw this enormous object flying through the yard. It slammed into the streets over there.”
Their home wasn’t damaged, but the rear deck of a home down the street was buried under trees.
Several streets in the area also flooded. A driver stalled while trying to navigate the high water. Another car had to be towed after it became partially submerged on West Wesley Road. That driver was rescued.
Jamee Ashmon is just thankful the neighborhood wasn’t damaged as badly as in other recent severe weather outbreaks.
“I really feel fortunate and blessed that nothing major happened,” Jamee Ashmon said. “We can take care of our trees.”
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz went to another area in southwest Atlanta where another tornado likely touched down to see the damage first-hand.
This particular storm touched down just before 11 a.m. along Plummer Road.
“We saw the lofted debris signature on the radar and then the damage we’ve seen here today looks just like tornado damage,” Nitz said.
Nitz found a power pole that had been snapped by the storm, with power lines lying across the road near a warehouse that appeared to be under construction.
“We’ve got trees across the road. Dozens and dozens of trees snapped from this tornado,” Nitz said.
Survey crews from the Nation Weather Service are expected to be deployed to the area.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tweeted images of trees down at her home in southwest Atlanta and along New Hope Road.
Just spoke with a neighbor who says he saw the funnel cloud come through. pic.twitter.com/LSNAnzGoM8
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) May 3, 2021
Thankfully, no one was injured. pic.twitter.com/kXAvEdIhXk
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) May 3, 2021
Atlanta police confirmed a tornado touchdown in the area of MLK Jr. Drive. and Fairburn Road. in the Adamsville area.
Walton County:
Channel 2′s Tony Thomas was in Walton County, where a homeowner told him it only took 60 seconds for the storm to destroy his yard.
There was a huge mess to clean up on Stone Road. Fences were broken and several pine trees were snapped in half.
Dudley Trollinger and his wife were shaken up, but OK. Trollinger said they watched the storm from their sun porch as it slammed their four-acre property.
“It came from up above. It didn’t come from a straight-line wind,” Trollinger said. “It was a direct drop like you drop a rock in a pond, and it hit one spot and just stayed for about 60 seconds.”
Trollinger said that luckily, crews inspected the house and the foundation is fine, but he’s upset to lose the yard he worked on so hard.
“I busted my tail here for almost 20 years getting a decent appearance in the landscaping, and it’s all gone in 60 seconds,” Trollinger said.
DeKalb County:
Viewers reported heavy flooding in the Toco Hills area and in Decatur. Willow Lane looked like a raging river at the height of storms Monday afternoon.
Brookhaven police said that two lanes of Buford Highway at Corporate Boulevard were closed due to flooding, but they have since reopened.
The DeKalb County Board of Health closed administrative offices, health centers and COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites Monday due to weather.
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LIVE UPDATES AS THE STORM HAPPENED:
[INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar]
11:12 a.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for DeKalb and Gwinnett counties until 12 p.m.
11:11 a.m.
The tornado warning in Fulton and DeKalb counties will be allowed to expire at 11:15 a.m.
11:07 a.m.
The tornado threat has now diminished for Fulton County.
10:55 a.m.
The area of rotation is now passing just north of Emory Road near Druid Hills, Clairmont, Lavista and Briarcliff roads. People in those area need to take shelter immediately.
10:51 a.m.
The storm is currently headed toward the neighborhoods of Virginia Highlands, Druid Hills, Emory, North Druid Hills, North Decatur, Clarkston and Tucker. People in those areas need to seek shelter.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan has just warned the WSB-TV staff, whose offices are in Midtown, to take shelter.
10:49 a.m.
Residents on the westside of Atlanta around Northside Drive and Howell Mill need to TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
10:45 a.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for DeKalb and Fulton counties until 11:15 a.m.
10:42 a.m.
The storm is currently just inside the Perimeter around I-20 on the west side and headed towards Midtown Atlanta, Cabbage Town, Inman Park, East Atlanta, Virginia Highland, Druid Hills, Emory and Decatur.
People in those neighborhoods need to TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
10:38 a.m.
A tornado is likely on the ground near Boulder Park, Cascade and New Hope Roads in South Fulton Counties. If you live in those areas, take shelter immediately.
10:35 a.m.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz says there is a confirmed tornado with a debris signature on the ground in southwest Fulton County.
10:23 a.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Fulton and Douglas counties until 10:45 a.m. The warning includes central Fulton County and the cities of South Fulton, Atlanta and East Point.
10:22 a.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Cobb, Douglas and Fulton counties until 10:45 a.m.
