Heavy Ga. Storms Knock Down Trees, Power

Published May 29, 2010 at 9:15 a.m.

(WSB Radio/AP) Heavy thunderstorms sent hail crashing down on Georgia, disrupted flights, toppled a tree into a house and shut down electricity service for thousands of residents.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning until 10 p.m. Friday for urban areas and small streams in central Fulton County and northwest Clayton County.

Meteorologists say a low-pressure system from the Great Lakes moved  into the Tennessee Valley, raising the chances of thunderstorms across north and central Georgia.

Hail struck northern Atlanta on Friday afternoon. Firefighters said they had to dig out a grandmother who became trapped in a south Atlanta home when a tree fell on it.

The storms caused delays at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and interrupted electricity service for thousands of Georgia Power customers. Georgia Power's Lisa Frederick told WSB Radio, almost 10-thousand customers lost their lights during the height of the storm. All but 800 customers had power restored by Saturday morning

A spokeswoman said the biggest challenge for crews was in Buckhead where a large tree fell off Alberta Drive.

"That one is taking a little bit longer to restore," said Frederick. "They've got to cut the tree up before they can get working on the line."

Crews were hoping to get most of the lights back on by noon Saturday.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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