CAMILLA, Ga. — Tornadoes that one official likened to “a big lawnmower” swept across two counties in southwestern Georgia before dawn Thursday, killing six people and injuring more than 200. One of the hardest-hit areas had been flattened by another tornado less than 3 1/2 years ago.
A man and his mother were killed near Bridgeboro, a rural community in southern Worth County, said Sheriff Freddie Tompkins, who declined to release the names.
Four others, including an infant and an 8-year-old boy, were killed in Mitchell County, said Jennifer Collins, spokeswoman with Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
Including those with relatively minor injuries, more than 200 people were injured in Mitchell County alone, Collins said. Officials estimated 50 to 75 homes were destroyed, and 75 were damaged.
Funnel clouds formed between 5:30 and 6 a.m., and there were one or two fully formed tornadoes, said meteorologist Paul Duval of the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla.
In Worth County, the tornado cut a streak about 10 miles long and up to 300 yards wide, Tompkins said.
“I was up in a helicopter this morning,” Tompkins said. “It looked like a big lawnmower went through there.”
About seven to nine homes were damaged, and three mobile homes were
Tornadoes destroyed in Worth County. Tompkins said damage would be in the millions of dollars.
In Mitchell County, the twister carved a quarter-mile swath of damage south of Camilla, knocking down trees and destroying buildings.
This was the same area where a tornado struck on Valentine’s Day 2000, killing 11 people in Camilla. It was one of three deadly twisters that ripped through the region before dawn, killing 20 people in all.
“It’s a mess, but not quite as bad as last time,” said Camilla water department employee Joseph Willingham, who estimated that 25 homes were damaged and five destroyed.
Dontressia Williams’ house — built after the 2000 tornado on land that had been forested before then — was one of those destroyed Thursday. She and her 2-year-old daughter survived by taking refuge in an interior room.
“I was scared,” she said. “As I was going into that room, things were falling in, glass was breaking.”
Some of the victims lived in mobile homes.
Eric Moore’s trailer was blown 100 yards away and crashed into a brick house. He survived the tornado by taking shelter in his mother’s more-solid house across the street.
“I know I can’t run from the Lord, but I think we’ll be a lot safer if we get out of that mobile home” Moore said.
About 50 people were treated at the Mitchell County Hospital in Camilla for serious head and chest injuries, broken bones and cuts, said hospital spokesman Rick Ivey. Others were taken to hospitals in Albany and Thomasville.
Gov. Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in Mitchell and Worth counties. He planned to visit Camilla on Thursday evening.
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency was coordinating help efforts between the state, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, police and volunteers, said GEMA spokeswoman Lisa Ray.
“Probably a disaster resource center will be set up, so people can go in and have a one-stop place to see where assistance is available,” Ray said. “There’s probably some injuries down there we don’t know about yet.”
In Decatur County, south of the worst damage, roads were flooded and power lines were down, said Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Morris. One tornado touched down there, and Morris thinks it may be the same one that eventually ravaged Mitchell and Worth counties. About four houses were damaged but no serious injuries were reported.
Ray said the Emergency Management Agency was coordinating efforts between the state, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, police and volunteers.
“Probably a disaster resource center will be set up, so people can go in and have a one-stop place to see where assistance is available,” Ray said.
In Decatur County, south of the worst damage, roads were flooded and power lines were down, said Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Morris. One tornado touched down there, and Morris thought it might be the same one that eventually ravaged Mitchell and Worth counties. About four houses were damaged, but no serious injuries were reported.
In the Carolinas, up to 4 inches of rain fell overnight and flood warnings were issued. Tornado watches also were posted in some counties.
Officials in Iredell County, N.C., closed part of Interstate 40 when it flooded, and some trapped motorists had to be rescued from their vehicles. No injuries were reported.
“We’re having a lot of flooding problems, and a number of creeks are rising,” said Tracy Jackson, director of emergency services for the county. “We’re making sure people are OK in low-lying areas.”
On Wednesday, a storm packing high winds, heavy rain and hail killed a 75-year-old man in Tennessee. Ray Wollum died when his mobile home near Cookeville was leveled at about 11:30 a.m., said Mike Hellman, spokesman for the Cookeville-Putnam County Emergency Management Agency.
Tornadoes ravage Georgia
March 21, 2003
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