Toombs County: Trees down, power out, and homes destroyed in Vidalia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)– Friday morning, some people woke up to damage while others rode out the storm with no problems.

Vidalia was one of the hardest-hit spots in our area. News 3 had reports of downed trees, which is an indication that the wind was extreme and severe in spots. Officials will be out to assess the damage and determine whether a tornado caused the destruction.

The corner of Church and Meadows Streets in the downtown area showed isolated damage. There are mangled sheets of roofing in the street, as well as damage to storefront awnings. Everything else in the immediate area appeared intact, with lights on in many stores showing no apparent damage to the interiors.

As of daybreak, GA Power said over 1000 customers are still without power in the Vidalia area. Because there is the potential for more severe weather today, many schools in Toombs County are closed. Parents are urged to call their schools for detailed information.

Julie McIntyre of Georgia First Bank was at work when the storm hit. She describes hearing the sound of a train- followed by a loud crash. She says the bank’s security camera captured images of her car briefly being lifted off the ground.

With more storms expected, officials recommend that residents stay vigilant, “Whether it’s people driving on the roadways and trees coming down on top of the road. There’s a lot of hazards associated with storms,” says Deputy Director of CEMA Randall Matthews, “So it’s very important to pay attention to the different alerts and make sure you have a plan to respond accordingly.”

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