Thunderstorms leave thousands without power | news

Thunderstorms, high winds, brisk lightning and torrential rain raged across Milledgeville and Baldwin County Friday night.

However, there were no reports of injuries.

The powerful storms left trees in the courtyards of apartment buildings and elsewhere, and left thousands of residents and businesses without power.

Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency director Wayne Johnson said at least 4,000 homes and businesses were without power for extended periods due to downed power lines.

Some of the fallen power lines actually caught fire, resulting in firefighters from Milledgeville Fire Rescue Services and Baldwin County Fire Rescue being called to dozens of locations.

Linemen from Georgia Power Company, Washington EMC and Tri-County EMC were also busy Friday night and restored power to those affected all day Saturday.

Many trees were unable to cope with the strong, gusty winds – some of which were estimated at up to 70 miles per hour in areas in Peachtree City, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service.

Radar data between 7:50 p.m. and 8 p.m. showed wind speeds ranging from 60 to 65 mph and up to 70 mph hitting the surface, Johnson said.

Several trees fell on city and county roads, Johnson said.

Fallen trees within the city limits were in the areas of 1000 block of Tanglewood Road, 1000 block of North Jefferson Street, 200 block of Lakeside Drive, 100 block of PA Johns Road, and 100 block of the Roberts Drive.

Trees were also blown down along Pritchard/Orchard Hill Street and Wilkinson/Franklin Street.

Several vehicles, meanwhile, were damaged by fallen trees at 820 N. Wayne St.

There have been reports of trees on fire in the 100 block of Lee Street SE and some trees on fire in the 100 block of Colony Farm Road SW in the county.

According to Baldwin County 911 CAD calls, downed trees have also been reported at:

Log Cabin Road NE and Greystone Drive

Sugarberry Drive SE

West Mitchell Street

West Lakeview Drive NE, Deepstep Road NE

Prosser Street NE

Sparta Highway NE

Carr’s Station Road

Helen Circle SW

Wright drive

Little Street NE

Dorfweg NW

Pritchard Lane

Orchard Hill Road

pound drive SW

E. Montego court NW

East Montego Court NW

Partridge Road NE

Florence Road NE,

Meier Kreis SE

Sparta highway

Hub Dent Road NE

Snyder Road NE

At least three grass fires have been reported in the county, caused by downed power lines on Sparta Highway and Brookins CIrcle NE, the 500 block of Harmony Church Road NE, and the 600 block of Georgia Highway 49 West.

On Monday, clean-up work after the storm was still underway in several parts of the city.