An early morning blast of rough weather turned Twin Branch Road in Sandy Springs into an obstacle course on Wednesday, when a 40-to-50-foot tree came crashing down across the street and onto a homeowner’s driveway. The massive trunk blocked the road, leaving the resident unable to pull out. It was just one of several trees reported down across metro Atlanta after heavy overnight storms that soaked the region, sent limbs flying onto streets and roofs, and kept crews and utility workers busy clearing debris and restoring service. Authorities said there were no injuries.
Sandy Springs homeowner pinned in driveway
Homeowner Larry Martindale told WSB‑TV that his wife first heard the loud crash, and that he soon realized the fallen tree had effectively locked him in. “I can’t get out of the driveway. I’m pinned in here,” Martindale said. Crews arrived around 3:30 p.m. to slice up and haul away the 40-to-50-foot trunk, according to the station.
Crews clear multiple roads across the metro
Across metro Atlanta, crews were called out to deal with a string of storm-related tree falls that made the morning commute a headache. A large tree shut down two lanes of Northside Parkway in Buckhead and another came down on Collier Drive, according to Atlanta News First. In Dunwoody, the same outlet reported a tree on Vermack Road that pulled down power lines before crews were able to clear the lane later in the morning.
Atlanta News First also noted that the Twin Branch Road tree had split at the base and landed just feet from a home’s front door, knocking out power to roughly a dozen homes.
No injuries but scattered damage reported in Roswell and Gwinnett
WSB‑TV reported that in Roswell, a separate tree came down on a house, and parts of Gwinnett County saw structural damage tied to the same wave of storms. The station said there were no reported injuries in those incidents. Neighbors described short power outages and a steady flow of work trucks as crews moved from block to block clearing debris, and traffic stayed snarled in spots where trees were still blocking lanes.
What officials advise
Georgia Power urges residents to treat every downed wire as if it is live, stay away from it, call 911 if there is an immediate hazard, and report power outages directly to the utility, according to Georgia Power. The company also warns people not to try to pull tree limbs off power lines on their own. Arborists note that after heavy rain, saturated soil can make mature trees more likely to uproot, and they recommend that any large removals be handled by professionals.
Drivers are being told to brace for lingering delays while cleanup continues, and residents are encouraged to keep an eye on local news and their utility’s outage map for updates. Anyone who comes across a downed power line is advised to keep a safe distance and contact emergency services immediately.
