Severe Storms Cause Widespread Damage and Power Outages in Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga. — Severe weather swept through north and west Georgia, leaving thousands of residents without power early Sunday morning. According to Georgia Power, over 41,000 customers are currently experiencing outages due to the inclement weather, which resulted in 545 reported outages across the state.

The impact of the outages extends beyond Georgia Power customers. Electric membership cooperatives are also reporting significant disruptions, particularly in areas such as Cobb County, Coweta County, and several communities west of Atlanta including Union City and Campbellton.

As of 2:30 a.m., the following outage numbers were reported across various utilities:

• Amicalola EMC: 96 outages affecting 1,863 residents
• Carroll EMC: 116 outages, impacting 4,785 customers
• Coweta-Fayette EMC: 1,461 customers affected across Coweta, Fayette, Heard, and Meriwether counties
• Georgia Power: 556 outages, with 56,464 customers without power
• GreyStone Power: 94 outages impacting 15,996 residents
• Jackson EMC: 172 outages across Banks, Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson counties
• Snapping Shoals EMC: 36 outages affecting Henry and Rockdale counties
• Sawnee EMC: 15 outages, involving 187 customers
• Walton EMC: 3 outages affecting 62 residents

In addition to the power outages, severe storms from Saturday night through the early hours of Sunday caused widespread damage in various regions. Viewers of Channel 2 Action News have shared images and videos showcasing destruction from the storms. One resident, Katora Turner, submitted a photo showing a tree that fell onto a deck, damaging a home in South Fulton, while David Wentworth Jr. captured striking lightning in the Ball Ground area.

Paulding County also reported significant storm damage. Sheriff Ashley Henson stated that a gas station near Highway 61 and Hay Renfroe Drive collapsed during the storm, with its canopy uprooted and resting on the store. “There is significant damage throughout the area,” Henson noted, urging residents to remain cautious as there are many downed power lines.

Authorities confirmed some minor injuries but reported no major casualties from the storms. Efforts to assess and address the extent of the damage are ongoing.

Residents are advised to stay updated through local news outlets for continuous coverage of the situation and safety tips in the aftermath of these severe weather events.