Falling Glass A Danger Downtown

With glass panels on storm-damaged buildings still blown out, the wind sent sheets of glass soaring through the air and slamming to the ground below in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday.

The streets around downtown Atlanta remained shut down early Wednesday evening after high winds sent sheets of glass downward.

An Atlanta police lieutenant said he saw a piece of glass fall from the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel building, which sent crews into action.

Workers wielding poles poked at portions of thick glass panels, dislodging it from damaged windows and sending it falling to the streets below. Atlanta police spent the day rerouting traffic around areas endangered by the falling shards.

As traffic remained off of Peachtree Street and other streets downtown, the sounds of shattering glass continued. Luckily, only the streets were feeling the shattering of the falling debris.

Doug Gates was arriving at the hotel while debris fell.

"They told me windows were blown out on the shaft leading up to the restaurant, as well as windows in guest rooms," Gates said. "No (it does not bother me) -- not as long as they don't try to put me in one of those rooms."

There were many windows that glass was still falling from Wednesday evening that was not due to the work of the crews inside the building.

Glass also fell from other buildings Wednesday, like the 101 Marietta building on Marietta Street.

People around the buildings have been concerned about flying debris and falling glass from a number of buildings, thanks to the high winds. Police closed several streets downtown, including Spring and Marietta streets as crews worked to secure glass from the buildings.

The Atlanta Thrashers were scheduled to play at Philips Arena on Wednesday night, which left police very concerned about people walking in areas where glass continued to fall.

Officials advised that people downtown be careful and mindful of the debris falling from the buildings.