A microburst tore through the southwest side of Tyrone late Wednesday afternoon, leaving 25 homes in the Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park on Senoia Road damaged or destroyed but leaving no deaths or serious injuries in its wake.
It was a microburst with winds of 80-90 miles per hour that ripped through the tree-filled area, according to National Weather Service representative Dave Nadler who was on site to assess the damage after reviewing radar data. That preliminary finding was included in a NWS bulletin issued later Wednesday night.
Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services Division Chief and EMA Director Pete Nelms said approximately 25 homes were either damaged or destroyed in the microburst event that accompanied a thunderstorm.
As if by some miracle, and despite what looked like a war zone, there were only minor injuries reported.
The Red Cross arrived at the scene, as did the county’s community partners, that include a number of churches and nonprofits which had been alerted and were being organized, Nelms said.
Nelms said five families were sheltered Wednesday night and the shelter was open again Thursday night, adding that others stayed with family or friends or had their lodging expenses paid by insurance carriers.
The microburst hit at approximately 5:30 p.m., wreaking havoc at Whispering Pines and along Senoia Road to the south. But it was at Whispering Pines that the greatest damage was done.
Chris Folds was standing in the doorway calling his cat when “the storm came out of nowhere.”
Chris, his girlfriend Stacy Johnson and their daughter ran out of the house after one tree crashed through the roof into a bedroom and another crashed into a second bedroom, Stacy said.
“We ran out and the third tree fell,” she explained. It was that final blow that completed the utter destruction of their home.
Just up the street, Stephanie Williams and Lisa Allen saw nature’s wrath unfold. The wind was blowing so hard it was difficult for Lisa to open the front door. Then looking out a window, Stephanie saw the trees blowing back and forth followed by the power going out.
It was then that she heard screams coming from her next door neighbor’s house.
“We ran into her house and found that a tree had crashed into the middle of the house,” Stephanie said.
Stephanie and Lisa found the woman unharmed and were able to locate her cat and bird, both also unharmed.
A short distance away, the home of Isaiah Jarvis, Destiny Davis and their young daughter was also hit by a falling tree. Waiting momentarily to see what would transpire with trees crashing onto and around the house, the three grouped by the front door to have an escape route if needed.
Fire crews from Fayette FES were joined by those from Coweta-Fayette EMC, Tyrone Police and church crews to begin clearing the area while Fayette EMA assisted those who suffered damage to their homes and to the others who lost everything. A crew from Harps Crossing Baptist Church joined in the clearing effort as night began to fall. Theywere joined in the clearing efforts by Tyrone Councilman Ryan Housley.
Other community partners poured in to help with efforts and EMC had most power restored by Thursday morning, said Nelms, adding that EMC crews did an outstanding job.
FES chaplain Frank Mercer coordinated food distribution efforts and the Real Life Center was on-site Thursday morning distributing food and personal items.
In all, the scene was surreal – so many homes damaged or destroyed, trees and limbs everywhere, power lines hanging on homes and off fallen trees like tinsel off a Christmas tree.
And yet there was something else. It was the people. Sure, many were shaken as would be expected. But it was more. They were helping each other, doing their best, with no supplies or equipment, to make sure their neighbors were cared for.
Whispering Pines owner Diane Morgan offered her thoughts on what had unfolded and how so many people remained calm and compassionate in the face of a personal disaster.
“Everybody is worried about everybody else, running around checking on and helping each other. Churches all around are praying and asking what they can do,” Morgan said. “It’s like a family here. I hurt for all of them, but God is in control and God kept us all safe.”
Anyone wishing to provide assistance can contact Diane Morgan at 404-702-0921.
