Tornado leaves at least 1 dead in Newnan, Georgia

A severe tornado that tore through a Georgia county early Friday has left at least one person dead, with widespread damage to buildings and houses also reported. 

ABC’s Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV reported that officials in the city of Newnan, located in Coweta County, said that at least one person who had a medical emergency died as first responders attempted to rescue the man. 

Other minor injuries were reported, and Coweta County Schools were closed Friday as residents woke up to heavily damaged or destroyed homes, with photos and aerial footage posted to social media showing downed trees and toppling buildings. 

NEW VIDEO – Overnight, a brutal tornado ripped through the city of Newnan, Georgia and left behind a devastating trail of destruction in it’s wake. Damage from downtown to a local high school was reported, with multiple homes severely torn up as well. Here’s a drone view. pic.twitter.com/P6J0BDuJk9

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 26, 2021

Multiple people here in Newnan, GA told me they rode out the storm in a bathtub and feel lucky to be alive. Lots of crews out working to clear rye damage right now. @accuweather pic.twitter.com/gMWcfc0s58

— Kim Leoffler (@kimleoffler) March 26, 2021

The National Weather Service for Atlanta tweeted Friday evening that preliminary reports indicated it was a EF-4 intensity storm, with wind speeds racing up to 170 mph in the hardest hit areas. 

PRELIMINARY Newnan tornado info: Based on damage indicators in our ongoing survey, EF-4 damage indicative of wind speeds up to 170 mph were observed in the hardest hit areas around LaGrange St and Smokey Rd. Teams will continue surveying over the coming days. #gawx

— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) March 26, 2021

The storm came after the Weather Service issued a tornado warning and a special tornado emergency Thursday evening as it received reports of a large tornado moving from Heard County to Coweta County, according to local NBC affiliate WXIA-TV. 

Keith Stellman of the National Weather Service said at a press conference Friday, “It’s clear it was a tornado that went through here last night.” 

The storm downed power lines, prompting power outages throughout the city, with WXIA-TV reporting that several residents were still without power Friday afternoon. 

Officials also told the local outlet that they had to begin recording 911 calls on paper after the power outages downed their emergency operating system. 

WXIA-TV reported that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is expected to tour the damage Saturday, along with Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), who represents Coweta County in Congress. 

The governor late in the afternoon Friday tweeted a message of support to those affected by the storm, and thanked first responders “who answered the call to help their fellow Georgians during a crisis.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by yesterday’s severe storms,” he wrote. “My office continues to monitor the situation so we can assist communities in need.”

My thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by yesterday’s severe storms. Thank you to all the first responders who answered the call to help their fellow Georgians during a crisis. My office continues to monitor the situation so we can assist communities in need.

— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) March 26, 2021

Ferguson, who visited Newnan’s 911 Center and met with other emergency personnel on Friday, tweeted footage of the damage, adding that his “prayers continue to be with our community & all those impacted by the devastation.”

In the wake of yesterday’s tornado, my staff & I visited the 911 Center in Newnan, met w/ county & state emergency personnel & saw the damage from the air with the GA Dept of Natural Resources.

My prayers continue to be with our community & all those impacted by the devastation. pic.twitter.com/UA4aZHALYp

— Drew Ferguson (@RepDrewFerguson) March 26, 2021

Updated Saturday at 9:41 a.m.