COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Some Coweta County residents are left cleaning up a big mess after the National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado toppled trees, knocking them into homes early Sunday morning.
Residents said the noise didn't last long, but it certainly left an impression.
"It sounded like a jet landing on top of the house," described Ralph Farr, who woke up to the sight of several downed trees near his property.
Farr said he woke up to the roar of the storm around 4:15 a.m., around when the tornado hit. He said it lasted for a minute - then was gone as quickly as it came.
Sony Ramirez lives not too far from Farr. He also said by the time he got up to see what had happened, it was over.
"Maybe 20 seconds at the most," Ramirez recounted. "We just started hearing trees crackling and falling. That’s what got us up."
The short-lived storm still managed to leave enough damage in its wake. Ramirez said he now has at least 30 to 40 trees down around his property - far more than the eight emergency officials estimated had fallen overnight. But once the sun came up, the scope of the damage became clearer.
"I went out to see if anything was tore up, and everything is tore up," Farr explained.
Severe storm images from the weekend of Feb. 23-24, 2019
"(Trees) In my driveway, my yard and of course across the road nearby," Ramirez listed. "I got a little minor damage to house, but other than that I’m alright."
11Alive's crews spotted trees on homes and on cars, but officials said despite the damage no one was hurt.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado had winds that clocked in around 90 mph and was on the ground for about 2 miles, and touched down near the intersection of Martin Mill Road and Tabby Lynch Road.
An EF-1 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale is capable of moderate damage with wind speeds between 86-and-110 mph. In those storms, roofs are severely stripped, mobile homes are overturned or badly damaged. Buildings may lose their exterior doors. Windows and other glass may be broken.
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