A severe storm swept through metro Atlanta, leaving a trail of destruction that included a fallen tree, which tragically struck a young girl in Douglasville. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that the family, living along Fairburn Road, was awakened by the violent weather as a large tree crashed into their home, injuring family members, including the child.
Donna Holtz, the homeowner, was quoted in a state of shock, recounting how she "woke up to a big thud and didn't really know what was happening until I heard my son and my granddaughter screaming for help." Her son and granddaughter were both taken to the hospital, with the granddaughter suffering a broken leg. The family struggles with the aftermath, as according to Holtz, her house is now a "total loss," and with no insurance as they were renting, they're uncertain about what they are going to do next, as noted by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Neighbors in the area have come together to support one another in cleanup efforts. Tyrone Morrow, a local resident, told FOX 5 Atlanta, "Douglasville is wide open, and you get this kind of stuff. Just a bad storm." Crews were quickly dispatched to the scene to clear debris and regain control over the disaster-stricken area, working to restore power and clear blocked roads.
Meanwhile, Channel 2's Eryn Rogers reported similar incidents where trees, unable to withstand the storm, fell on several homes in the same neighborhood. Another homeowner, Yolette Francois, expressed her relief, saying, "I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. I was just standing there and I was like, ‘God, you are great because if this tree would have fell on my house, I don’t know what I’d do.'” The National Weather Service has since confirmed that an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in southern Fayette County that morning.
