Power Outage in Lula, GA

The Banks County Emergency Management Director reported that more than a dozen trees were down across the county, including three on Interstate-85 near Banks Crossing. Nearly the entire county was left without power following the damaging thunderstorm winds.

The Banks County Emergency Management Director reported that at least 25 trees were blown down across the county, several blocking roads, and one downed tree causing significant damage to the roof of a home. Widespread power outages were observed and a number of traffic signals were rendered inoperative as a result. Some railroad crossing arms were also torn off by the strong winds gusts.

The Hall County 911 Center reported that more than six trees were down from Lula to Gillsville, several of which were on power lines.

The Hall County 911 Center reported that a number of trees and power lines were down throughout the central and eastern part of the county, especially from Gainesville to Lula. The most significant damage occurred in the Lula area. Power lines were down in White Sulfer, Pavery, Branon, and Gainesville as well.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that an F0 tornado touched down about 1 mile south of Lula and traveled a long nearly 11-mile path to the north-northwest, terminating near Mossy Creek in southeast White county. Eight miles of the tornado path occurred within Hall county. The majority of the damage with this tornado also occurred in Hall county, especially along a six-mile path near Lula. Along this path, hundreds of trees and many power lines were blown down and eighteen homes, six of which were mobile homes, sustained minor to moderate damaged. The damage was confirmed by the Hall county Sheriff and the Hall County Emergency Management Director at the time of the incident. The overall tornado path within Hall county was eight miles long and 50 yards wide.

An NWS Survey team concluded that an F0 to weak F1 tornado touched down briefly about 3 miles south of Lula in extreme northeast Hall county. The tornado was only on the ground very briefly and lifted before crossing into Banks county. It had a width of 50 to 100 yards. Nonetheless, about one dozen homes were damaged with numerous trees and power lines down in the area as well. The tornado was said to have been visible from the Boy Scout Ranch on Highway 60. Debris was observed swirling in the air.