Local

Severe storms topple at least 1,000 trees across Oconee County

OCONEE COUNTY, Ga. — After severe storms moved through the metro Atlanta area, emergency officials estimated 1,000 trees were down across Oconee County.

The National Weather Service believes a microburst caused the destruction. Some of the trees were ripped from the roots and tossed aside whole and others snapped in half.

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Channel 2′s Tony Thomas found a home in the Bishop area where enough trees fell to fully cover the swimming pool in the backyard with nothing more than the diving board still showing.

The homeowner told Thomas the wind started picking up, a gutter fell off and then trees started falling.

Meteorologists estimate the winds in the area got up to 70 to 80 miles per hour.

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Oconee County Emergency Management Director C.J. Worden says his office is working with the NWS to track and plot damage.