Deadly Tornado Tears Through Georgia

On May 11, 2008, a tornado outbreak in Georgia, US, resulted in at least two deaths and several injuries. The storm, which began on May 7, produced 120 confirmed tornadoes and killed 28 people across several states. In Georgia, severe thunderstorms ploughed through portions of North and Central Georgia during the morning hours, resulting in damaging wind, large hail, and several tornadoes. The damage was so extensive in 11 counties in northern and central Georgia that Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency.

The tornado formed around 9:52 am and dissipated at 10:07 am

The tornado formed around 9:52 am and moved through Georgia, wreaking havoc for 15 minutes before dissipating at 10:07 am. During this short but destructive period, the tornado caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure and resulted in fatalities and injuries.

The storm system was part of a larger outbreak sequence that affected the Southern Plains, the southeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States from May 7 to 11, 2008. This particular tornado touched down in Carroll and Troup counties around 4 am EDT and moved into east-central counties like Toombs and Treutlen by 7 am. The tornado's path covered several counties in northern and central Georgia, with the most severe impact occurring in Treutlen County, where an EF3 tornado was recorded.

The tornado's destructive force was evident in the extensive damage to homes and buildings. In Ellenwood, Clayton County, 500 people were left without dwellings, and in Bibb County, extensive damage was inflicted on the campus of Macon State College. The tornado's impact extended beyond residential areas, with straight-line winds causing damage to many trees and structures. Some trees fell onto homes and vehicles, compounding the devastation.

The human toll of this tornado was significant. At least two people lost their lives, and several others were injured. The financial cost was also substantial, with insured damages estimated at $125 million by the state insurance commissioner's office. The widespread destruction prompted Governor Sonny Perdue to declare a state of emergency in 11 counties in northern and central Georgia, and some schools were closed for a couple of days.

It formed 3 miles northwest of Darien, Georgia

On May 11, 2008, a tornado formed 3 miles northwest of Darien, Georgia, causing extensive damage to buildings near Interstate 95. This tornado was rated EF4, the second-most destructive rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale. It was the first violent tornado in Georgia since an F4 tornado hit four counties north of Atlanta on March 27, 1994.

The tornado outbreak sequence of May 7-11, 2008, affected the Southern Plains, the southeastern and Middle Atlantic region of the United States. The storm produced 120 confirmed tornadoes, killing 28 people across several states, 25 of whom were killed by tornadoes. The event occurred less than a week after a deadly tornado outbreak that principally affected the state of Arkansas and killed 7 people.

The tornado that formed near Darien was part of a larger storm system that produced nearly 20 tornadoes in Georgia alone. The outbreak sequence began in Oklahoma on May 7, causing scattered damage throughout the Oklahoma City area. On May 8, tornadoes touched down across northeastern Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, and north and west of Birmingham and Huntsville. On May 10, a new wave of tornadoes from a second system affected portions of the southern Plains and the Lower-Mississippi Valley.

The tornado that formed near Darien was part of a larger storm system that moved across the country, causing widespread damage. The outbreak sequence killed 28 people and left at least 85,000 customers without power in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The damage was so extensive in 11 counties in northern and central Georgia that Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency.

The tornado damaged a Marine Sales and Services Business

Ellis Marine, a boat and motor dealer in Brunswick, Georgia, was one of the businesses damaged by the tornado. The company, which has been in business since 1976, is family-owned and is one of the longest-serving marine dealerships in the country. It is located near the Atlantic shoreline of St. Simons, Jekyll, and Sea Island, Georgia.

Ellis Marine offers a wide range of services, specialising in reputable boat lines and a variety of marine products. The company's services are carried out by factory-trained Yamaha and Mercury Outboard technicians. They also have a large inventory of boats, including freshwater and saltwater boats, inshore and offshore boats, and pleasure and fishing boats.

The company's customers come from a wide area, including Baxley, Hinesville, Savannah, St. Marys, Waycross, Nahunta, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Fernandina, Kingsland, Richmond Hill, and Beaufort. Ellis Marine prides itself on its friendly and knowledgeable staff, who aim to become a "friend in the business" of their customers.

The tornado was an EF-4

The EF-4 tornado caused significant damage in several communities, with at least 23 deaths reported (21 by tornadoes). The tornado first touched down near the Kansas-Oklahoma border in Oklahoma, southwest of Chetopa, Kansas, and tracked eastward. It then slammed into Picher with devastating results. Twenty blocks of the town suffered extensive damage, with houses and businesses destroyed or flattened, and some swept away. The damage in Picher was rated EF4. At least 150 others were injured in Picher alone.

The tornado continued eastward, passing just north of Quapaw and Peoria before crossing Interstate 44 into Missouri. Most of the fatalities in Missouri were reported near the Racine community at the intersection of Route 43 and Iris Road, northwest of Neosho, where automobiles were thrown as far as half a mile away. Nearly 20 people were hospitalized in Newton County.

The tornado continued eastward toward Granby, Missouri, destroying a church building and numerous homes as it passed through. The area surrounding Granby's cemetery and rodeo grounds took heavy damage. The tornado continued eastward toward the village of Newtonia. There were no reported storm-related deaths in the area surrounding Granby.

The preliminary rating of the tornado was EF3, but it was later upgraded to EF4 according to a survey. The tornado continued into Barry County, where one person was killed in Purdy. In Barry County, several buildings were damaged, including numerous houses, a church, four mobile homes, and many outbuildings. The tornado lifted just southeast of McDowell.

Debris from the storm, such as letters, bills, and foam, traveled as far east as the Springfield area, about 80 miles from the hardest-hit region in southwestern Missouri.

The tornado killed 20 people

On May 11, 2008, a tornado outbreak in Georgia killed 20 people. The storm was part of a larger tornado outbreak sequence that affected the Southern Plains, the southeastern and Middle Atlantic region of the United States from May 7 to 11, 2008. The outbreak sequence killed 28 people across several states, 25 of whom were killed by tornadoes.

The tornado that hit Georgia on May 11 was part of a series of severe thunderstorms that plowed through portions of North and Central Georgia during the morning hours. The storms brought damaging winds, large hail, and several tornadoes. The damage was so extensive in 11 counties in northern and central Georgia that Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency. A state of emergency was also declared in some counties in South Georgia. Some schools were closed for a couple of days.

The tornadoes caused extensive damage to homes and buildings. In Ellenwood, Clayton County, 500 people were displaced when they lost their dwellings. Extensive damage also occurred on the campus of Macon State College in Bibb County, where the college lost half the trees on campus. The strongest tornado (EF3) occurred in Treutlen County. Most of the others were rated EF2.

The first tornadoes touched down almost simultaneously shortly after 4 am EDT in Carroll and Troup counties. By 7 am they had moved down into east-central counties (Toombs and Treutlen). Storm damage survey teams from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City found evidence of at least 15 tornadoes—most of which severely damaged homes or completely destroyed buildings.

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