Northeast Georgia residents assess damage from confirmed tornado
ATLANTA - A confirmed tornado in northeast Georgia left damage and debris, which officials assessed in the wake of the storm on Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Banks County, where residents and officials were dealing with debris.
In Banks County, officials received reports of damage near Bennett Road at Marshburn Road, north toward Payne Road and Highway 441 and Highway 198.
FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey was in Banks County where utility crews were working to repair downed power lines. Residents began leaving their homes and tended to downed trees.
Floodwaters on a road in Homer caused pipes to burst and the roadway gave way.
Residents of Homer were picking up tree limbs where a twister is believed to have struck a barn with horses inside.
Banks County officials said there were no reported injuries on Tuesday afternoon.
Apparent tornado damage in Banks County. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
Banks County residents said they heard the sound of a "freight train" as they took shelter.
In Oconee County, Hog Mountain Road in the 6305 area was reduced to one lane while Walton EMC replaced a power pole, according to the Oconee County Sheriff's Office
Officials in Habersham County echoed the National Weather Service's advice to take cover. FOX 5 Atlanta is working to learn the extent of any damage in the area.
A road in Homer gave way after pipes burst during heavy rain from Tropical Depression Fred. (Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta)
The National Weather Service issued Tornado Warnings in Banks, Habersham, Elbert and Hart counties in Georgia. Tornado Warning popped up again later for Habersham, Rabun and Oconee counties.
There was severe flooding in Blairesville.
Storms diminished to heavy rain showers around noon in Georgia. Heavy rains drenched parts of metro Atlanta just before dawn Tuesday, snarling commutes. About 2 inches of rain was recorded in Atlanta and Macon, with more than an inch falling overnight in Augusta and Columbus.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Georgia Power reported approximately 8,000 customers statewide were without power as a result of the weather system.
At least three apparent tornadoes touched down in Georgia: One hit Americus, in the southwestern part of the state, one hit a rural area of Meriwether County, between Atlanta and Columbus, and one hit Jeffersonville, near Macon, according to the National Weather Service.
Southern and central Georgia dealt with debris from storm conditions in the early morning. Tropical Depression Fred knocked down trees and caused major power outages as it passed through Americus, Georgia. Several homes were damaged and many were without power.
The spinups are a byproduct of tropical depression Fred, which swept through metro Atlanta overnight into Tuesday morning.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.
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