At least two people were killed when a powerful line of storms in the Southeast spawned tornadoes, demolishing homes and businesses, downing trees and flipping more than 100 cars and several tractor-trailers on a major interstate in northern Georgia./p>
In Adairsville, Ga., about 60 miles northwest of Atlanta, a WBS-TV reporter captured a video on his iPhone of a funnel cloud that suddenly appeared before him.
Ross Cavitt, who is also a meteorologist for WSB-Channel 2, reported that the funnel cloud moved across a parking lot in Adairsvilleâs downtown area.
On Twitter, there were images of the devastation, including photos of a flattened manufacturing plant in Adairsville. The factoryâs manager told reporters that employees hid in a kitchen as the tornado tore the building apart around them starting about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Another photo from Jerry Holmes from an Adairsville manufacturing facility #StormWatchOn2 h! ttp://t.co/pcjU0RcO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that one man died in Adairsville after a tree fell on his mobile home.
It was the same line of storms overnight that killed a man in Tennessee when a tree fell on a shed, according to WSMV-TV in Nashville. The National Weather Service has confirmed that at least eight tornadoes touched down in Tennessee, where the extent of the damage is still being assessed, authorities said.
In northern Georgia, The Journal-Constitution reports that Robert Jones, the police chief in Adairsville, estimated that the tornao was a quarter-mile wide late Wednesday morning as it ripped through the town while on the ground for about two miles. He said the police had not yet determined the extent of injuries because officers and volunteers were still assessing the damage and going door to door.
On Interstate 75 and downtown streets, the storm tossed around cars and turned over tractor-trailers.
Tornado aftermath! http://t.co/nbbsOJmL
Tornado traveling along side Sonoraville high school in Gordon Co. Luckily no injuries reported. #blessed http://t.co/96wt6Mkw
#adairsvilletornado panoramic @wsbtv http://t.co/5CPCceCb
The storm also caused widespread power failures.
5:30pm Update - 12,200 out statewide: 3,900 in NW GA, 2,800 in W. GA, 2,300 in metro ATL. All other regions, <1,000 ea.
But the mail still got delivered.
Torrential downpour, tornado sirens blaring, and this guy casually delivering the mail. http://t.co/PCl7Dhcx