Good Friday storms leave damage, flooding across north Georgia
ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Severe storms tore through north Georgia leaving behind flooding and damage.
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The Good Friday storm front lost some of its energy as it began to trek through Georgia, but around 5 a.m., some of those storms turned severe with multiple Tornado Warning through the morning hours.
In Peachtree Corners, an early morning Tornado Warning had many in Gwinnett, Forsyth, and Fulton counties on edge. FOX 5’s Marc Teichner came across an apartment building which was sliced in half by a fallen tree. Members of the family inside were forced to jump out of the way.
Nearby, in Johns Creek, officials had to close a few intersections including Old Alabama Road at Buice Road due to damage
RELATED: Family okay after tree slices through Peachtree Corners apartment
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In Hall County, one of those weather-warned areas saw some damage. A church steeple toppled from its foundation and several other buildings on the church campus were damaged
RELATED: Good Friday storm topples church steeple in Hall County
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Atlanta firefighters were also busy Friday. They were called out to northwest Atlanta where a tree fell on a tractor-trailer. The firefighters were eventually able to safely pull the driver from the cab.
Meanwhile, Atlanta's Swiftwater Team was checking going vehicle by vehicle checking to make sure cars abandoned in rising floodwaters were empty. The water along Peachtree Battle Avenue went up to the roof of some vehicles.
RELATED: Atlanta firefighters busy during Good Friday storms
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Flooding forced several businesses to close Friday in Banks County. Those included Tanger Outlets for a time as well as restaurants in Banks Crossing.
RELATED: Flooding forces businesses to close in Banks County
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It was a depressing scene in Spalding County midday Friday.
FOX 5 viewer Olivia Lowman snapped photos of a flooded car dealership lot.
Several cars and pickup trucks at Cronic Chevrolet in Griffin were partially submerged in the lot.
The dealership told FOX 5 News 22 of those vehicles were a total loss.
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A fire tore through a home on Leaf Court in Johns Creek. Officials said it was possibly started by lightning.
Neighbors reported seeing lightning strikes around 5:30 Friday morning, around the same time as the blaze broke out.
Crews said there was considerable damage to the home, although no one was hurt.
Firefighters got a call around the same time to a home nearby, on Lakeview Way. That home also was possibly started by lightning.
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Several roadways across the region were shut down Friday because of widespread flooding.
Conyers city officials said part of Norton Road between Milstead and Eastview roads were closed due to flooding.
And near Rockdale County High School and Magnet School, a sinkhole has been growing all day Friday. It eventually swallowed one of the barricades preventing motorists from passing. No word on if this will impact traffic to the school.
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And in Troup County, fast-flowing floodwaters washed out Wright Road between Stovall and Dallas Mills Road, splitting the road in half.
Troup County Sheriff’s deputies were forced to close the road until repairs can be made.
RELATED: Roads closed due to flooding damage in Troup County
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And the weather may be to blame for a fire truck accident in Forsyth County.
The fire truck overturned along Shiloh Road near Shiloh Drive.
The truck was headed to a fire scene during heavy rain when it the driver lost control.
Three firefighters suffered slight injuries.
Another firefighter was hurt in a collapse at the fire on Vickery Point in Cumming.
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