Weather

Tornado near Georgia naval base causes injuries as Tropical Storm Elsa hits coast

GEORGIA — Tropical Storm Elsa has moved out of Georgia but not after leaving a trail of damage along the coastal areas.

A tornado touched down near a naval base in south Georgia Wednesday evening that led to “multiple injuries,” according to our sister station Action News Jax.

The National Weather Service confirmed damage at the RV park at the Kings Bay Naval Base in St. Marys, Ga., warning residents to shelter in place even if no longer under a tornado warning. The base has confirmed that everyone staying at the RV park has been accounted for.

Senator Jon Ossoff released a statement following the tornado saying in part,

This evening at approximately 5:50 p.m., a suspected tornado touched down at Georgia’s Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Multiple people on the base sustained injuries. I spoke this evening with Captain Chester Parks, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay commanding officer, and assured him that he and his team have my full attention and I am standing by to provide any necessary Congressional assistance...We urge all Georgians to comply with state and local orders and monitor local news media and the National Weather Service for updates as Tropical Storm Elsa continues to affect the state.

—  Senator Jon Ossoff

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Eboni Deon says Elsa has maximum winds of 40 mph and is expected to weaken as it moves through South Carolina.

Gov. Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency for many coastal and south Georgia counties Tuesday. The executive order issued by Kemp covers 92 counties. For a full list of the counties and to see the executive order please click here.

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Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz was in Treasure Island, Fla. A Hurricane Warning had been issued for that area. Nitz says there were gusty winds and showers. He said residents there are braced for heavy rains and potential tornadoes, as well.

Channel 2′s Tony Thomas was in St. Simons, Georgia. Thomas said they started feeling the gusty winds of Tropical Storm Elsa late Wednesday afternoon, seeing winds as high as 30 miles an hour.

Big bridges around coastal Georgia remained open, but crews working to remove the overturned Golden Ray cargo ship halted their work.

Officials in many coastal counties warned residents and vacationers to be on alert as the bands moved through the area.

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