Storms Wreak Havoc Here

A severe thunderstorm ripped through Jasper County Friday, knocking down trees, which in turn tore down power lines, and caused considerable damage, particularly in the west end of the county in the area of Jackson Lake Road between Hwys. 16 and 212.

But the damage wasn’t limited to there, as a wreck occurred on Hwy. 11 south in Hillsboro caused by a falling tree. In that accident, Donald Hamilton of Gainesville was traveling north on Hwy. 11 south in a 2011 Ford F-150, approaching Fullerton Phillips Road. The roadway was completely blocked by a large downed tree. Mr. Hamilton swerved into the south bound lane to avoid the tree. He struck the tree and continued straight in the south bound lane, according to the report from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).

Johnny Lee Edwards of Gray was stopped in a 2002 Ford F-150 in the south bound lane on the other side of the downed tree. Mr. Hamilton’s truck struck Mr. Edwards’s truck in the front left side, and swerved to miss him and went off the roadway into the ditch.

Meanwhile, crews from the Jasper County Public Works Department (PWD), Jasper County firefighters and law enforcement officials, Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, Snapping Shoals EMC, Georgia Power, and others quickly went to work to remove trees from roadways and restore power to homes and businesses affected by the storm.

Some parts of the county lost power for as much as six hours.

Damage included several homes and vehicles damaged by falling trees.

It all began about 3 p.m. Friday while there was a structure fire at Percy Smith Trailer Park. Jasper County 911 director Betty Jump said that after firefighters were dispatched to the fire, the 911 lines “lit up.” The operators thought it was calls abut the fire, but, instead it was numerous calls of trees and lines being down.

At one time Hwy. 16 was closed from Monticello to the bridge at Butts County, and Hwy. 212 was closed from Jackson Lake Road to Newton County.

Damage included a tree falling into the home of the Hayes family in Turtle Cove, where luckily no one was home at the time. The tree fell into a child’s bedroom.

Another house with damage from falling trees was on Hwy. 212 near the bridge. Two cars at Whippoorwill were hit by falling trees.

One of the initial calls was downed power lines causing a fire on the roadside, and there ended up being many of them.

There were no reports of any serious injuries caused by the falling trees, and a comprehensive damage estimate is not available.