COLQUITT COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
A lot of folks in Colquitt County were out picking up limbs and cutting up downed trees Monday.
A severe thunderstorm Sunday night knocked out power to hundreds of people in the western part of the county. At least one home was badly damaged, and the family who lives there is glad they rode out of the storm when they did.
Barbara Gaines says she and her family usually watch TV from the living room, but when that severe storm came into western Colquitt County Sunday night she moved to the den. That decision turned out to be the best idea of the night.
"It sounded like the whole house was going to collapse," said Barbara Gaines. "It was scary. It was shocking coming out here and seeing the ceiling and all the stuff on the floor."
A giant limb came crashing on Barbara Gaines' home Sunday night. The limbs on the giant pecan tree that stood for many years was just no match for the winds. Gaines' roof on the other hand was no match for the limb. It tore down part of the ceiling and left a hole or two.
"We were sitting in here watching TV," said Barbara Gaines.
It was about 9:30 Sunday night when a large storm system pushed into Colquitt County. It brought down several of trees along Tolakas Road and Highway 37. It also sent large limbs falling in the city of Moultrie. But as the front moved through, so did Gaines and her husband into another room. Had they had been sitting there, the ceiling would have caved in on them.
"You have insurance?," said Cade Fowler.
"Yes," said Gaines. "And no one got hurt?," said Fowler.
"No. Thank God for that," said Gaines.
The Gaines family says a new roof is needed for the house. And as for the pecan tree, it's getting the axe before the rest of it falls. An insurance adjuster came out Monday but the Gaines family isn't sure of the dollar amount of damage yet. They are able to stay in their home.
Colquitt EMC said 1,000 customers were without power last night at the peak of the storm.
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Barbara Gaines
Storm damage in Gaines' home
Pecan tree on Gaines' home
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