Storms Kill One in Georgia, Cause $15M in Damages

A string of four twisters that swept through Georgia killed at least one and cut a swath of devastation from the Alabama line up to Gainesville, state officials said.

Drake Walker, an 11-year-old from Sycamore, was killed by a falling tree branch as he played outside when the powerful storms passed through.

The vicious storms damaged more than 2,000 homes, 300 cars and at least 70 agricultural buildings, said State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.

He said the damage loses could easily top $15 million, a figure that does not include infrastructure damage or the storm’s economic impact.

“It’s remarkable,” Oxendine said. “1998 was the only time I’ve seen more destruction from wind in Georgia.”

During that storm eight years ago, a batch of tornadoes ripped through Atlanta’s north suburbs and devastated entire neighborhoods.
This time, the storms damaged homes and businesses throughout the state and knocked out power to more than 40,000 customers.