Gwinnett County storm damage equivalent to EF1 tornado, National Weather Service says

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The National Weather Center has announced storm damage in Gwinnett County is the equivalent of an EF1 tornado.

Trees fell on houses off of Cedar Wood Drive off of Killian Hill Road. We flew News Drone 2 over the area to show you all the destruction.

"The wind was laying everything over to one side. It was just terrifying," Deana Tolbert told Channel 2's Tony Thomas.

Tolbert, a resident in the area, said it was the worst storm she seen rip through this neighborhood in the 43 years she's lived here.

Officials said this was not a tornado, but the peak winds were equal to an EF1 or small tornado.

"I have lost a whole yard full of tree's," Tolbert said.

She was one of the lucky ones.

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Up and down Cedar Wood Drive, tree cutters were pulling trees off of houses as utility crews tried to repair the lines the lumber took down.

One resident, who asked us not to use her name, described how trees destroyed part of her house. She said you can look up through her kitchen and see the now-blue skies.

"It's just unbelievable that it came through here like it did," she said. "I could have easily been hurt."

Gwinnett Emergency Management said the Friday afternoon storm impacted 39 structures, including two that were destroyed, 12 severely damaged and 18 more with minor damage.

There's no tally on how many trees fell. Some were simply snapped in half, the upper end winding up like wind pushed a missile into whatever got into its way.

Power has been restored and utility crews are working to repair other services. There is a lot more work to do after a very rough weekend.

Cox Media Group