Thunderstorm Wind — Gordon, Georgia

2002-05-01 · near Countywide, Gordon, Georgia

Event narrative

A National Weather Service disaster survey team observed that a thunderstorm macroburst, or large area of estimated 80 to 100 mph straight line winds traversed much of the county, but hit the Calhoun area particularly hard. The thunderstorm macroburst entered the northwest part of the county northwest of Sugar Valley, and then traveled southeast through the county within an approximately 30 minute period of time. As this macroburst traveled through the Calhoun area, a small, two-segmented F0 to weak F1 tornado touched down, first just southwest of Calhoun and then again just east of Calhoun, inflicting some of the worst damage in the county. Damage across the county was widespread and extensive and as such the area was declared in a state of emergency by the governor. Literally thousands of trees, dozens of which were 2 feet or more in diameter, and hundreds of power lines and telephone poles were either blown down or brought down by large trees. Damage surveys and insurance claims indicated that well over 300 structures were either damaged or destroyed, including 269 homes and 48 commercial structures. Numerous cars were also either damaged or destroyed by down trees and debris, including six classic cars valued at $100,000. In one case, the damage to a large carpet dyeing facility was described as if a missile had hit the facility. Some of the more significant damaged structures and businesses included a large dyeing plant in Calhoun, two schools, one an elementary and the other a high school in Calhoun, a church, a grocery store, two barns at a large cow farm, and several businesses such as a pet store, a barbershop, a tanning salon, a dental office, insurance company office, and a computer store. In addition, 50,000 chickens were destroyed on a chicken farm when the structure collapsed during the storm. While miraculously, no injuries or deaths were reported amidst all of this damage, at least two instances were reported of trees crashing through homes and landing just inches away from individuals sleeping in their bed. At least 20,000 people, namely most of the residents of the county, were without power for at least one day, and several, especially in the Calhoun area, remained without power for nearly a week. Dozens of roads were also blocked by the downed trees, power lines, and other debris.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5291802. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.