TREUTLEN COUNTY, Ga. — Treutlen County EMA Director Justin McNure told 13WMAZ that residents are without power and cell service is spotty through the county after hundreds of trees were downed during the storm, with some crashing into homes.
This left many driveways blocked without a way for people to leave their homes.
Authorities are directing areas of traffic throughout Soperton due to stoplights being out and debris and power lines scattered across the roads. Joe Moore Jr., whose family lives off SR-29, says they were one of the families trapped in their homes.
He said their family was under the impression the storm was going to avoid their county but they were prepared for severe conditions.
"It was very calm, it was perfect and we really didn't think it was gonna come," Moore said. "We thought it was gonna pass over going into the night, probably around 1:00. That's when it got real serious."
He says they went back to sleep thinking everything was ok.
"I heard popping the whole night, but you don't really care as long as it don't hit us but when that hit us, it was like, 'OK, let's sit up and let's stay up and see what happens,'" he said.
Moore tells 13WMAZ a tree struck their house overnight, causing water to rush in, adding he heard crashing noises coming from outside as the storm progressed.
Moore said he had to help his family clear the path to run errands. Moore's spent their morning using their trucks and chainsaws to cut through the the trees which fell onto their yard.
"We literally got a fence of trees laying down around the house; So my main mission was just to get a path so we can get out to go get some stuff," he said.
Also sitting on the Moore's property is his event venue business, Always Moore, established in 2023.
"The damage because of the winds, the doors broke pretty bad and a lot of water inside of the building," Moore said. "We had a couple of trees fall on the AC unit so it's gonna it's not as much damage as here, but when you add it up, it's probably gonna be a substantial amount of damage."
He said this was a new experience.
"I never experienced nothing like this in my 26 years of living," Moore said.
He said he feels blessed the storm did not force them out of their home. He said his family's property and his business are insured and he's hoping their policy will provide coverage to help finance any needed repairs.