 Tornado (shadow at left), after going through downtown Atlanta | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 14–15, 2008 |
| Tornado outbreak | |
| Tornadoes | 46 confirmed |
| Maximum rating | EF3 tornado |
| Duration | 24 hours, 7 minutes |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | 3 fatalities (1 in Atlanta), 53 injuries |
| Damage | >$250 million |
| Areas affected | Alabama,Georgia,North Carolina,South Carolina |
Part of thetornado outbreaks of 2008 | |
The2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak was a destructive and deadlytornado outbreak that affected theSoutheastern United States on March 14–15, 2008. The most infamous tornado of the outbreak occurred on March 14 when an isolated EF2 tornado caused widespread damage acrossDowntown Atlanta,Georgia, including to theCNN Center and to theGeorgia Dome, which was hosting the2008 SEC men's basketball tournament. Other buildings that were damaged include theGeorgia World Congress Center, and the Omni Hotel, which was evacuated after many windows were blown out. TheWestin Peachtree Plaza Hotel suffered major window damage. The image of the building with all its windows blown out became famous and for a time was a symbol of the tornado.Centennial Olympic Park, SunTrust Plaza (nowTruist Plaza) and historicOakland Cemetery were also damaged.[1]
One man was killed near Downtown Atlanta and 30 others were injured.[2] Two other deaths took place on March 15, in the northern Atlanta suburbs, from a second, larger round of severe weather and tornadoes. In total, 46 tornadoes were confirmed over the 24-hour period, from easternAlabama to theCarolina coast, with most of the activity concentrated in theMetropolitan Atlanta area, theCentral Savannah River Area and theMidlands ofSouth Carolina.
In their 9:00 pm EDT outlook, theStorm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe weather across portions of thesouthern United States fromOklahoma toGeorgia, with a 2% risk for tornadoes for the Atlanta area.[3] Atornado warning was issued for Atlanta at 9:26 pm when thesupercell that caused the tornado was 6 miles (10 km) northwest of downtown, although no watches were in effect for the area due to the low probability. The tornado moved to the southeast, which is unusual as mostsupercells have a strong northward component along (or ahead of) acold front. It also was unusual because it was not associated with such asquall line at all, but was an independentsupercell well ahead of the main storm system.[citation needed]
Another tornado outbreak struck the southeast the following day. Amoderate risk for severe storms was issued in the morning, and maintained through the afternoon.[4] However, by mid afternoon, areas of east-central Georgia and central South Carolina were upgraded to ahigh risk of severe storms due to the tornado threat.[5][6]
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage[note 2] | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF2 | N ofWarren | Cleveland | AR | 33°43′12″N92°09′48″W / 33.7201°N 92.1632°W /33.7201; -92.1632 (Warren (Mar. 14, EF2)) | 0842–0855 | 9.4 mi (15.1 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | $1,000,000 | An old, unoccupied house was destroyed. Several houses sustained roof and shingle damage, including two that had most of their roofs blown off. Several chicken houses were destroyed, and a number of barns and outbuildings were damaged. Hundreds of trees were downed; one destroyed a house trailer.[7] |
| EF2 | Atlanta | Fulton,DeKalb | GA | 33°45′54″N84°25′48″W / 33.765°N 84.43°W /33.765; -84.43 (Atlanta (Mar. 14, EF2)) | 0138–0150 | 6.25 mi (10.06 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | $25,050,000 | 1 death –See section on this tornado – 30 people were injured.[8][9] |
| EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage[note 2] | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF2 | SE ofOneonta | Blount | AL | 33°52′18″N86°26′45″W / 33.8716°N 86.4459°W /33.8716; -86.4459 (Oneonta (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 1447–1457 | 6.04 mi (9.72 km) | 675 yd (617 m) | $960,000 | The Appalachian School property sustained damage, several hundred trees were snapped or uprooted, and many chicken houses were damaged or destroyed. Many garages, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed. At least 25 homes sustained major damage while dozens more sustained lesser damage. A mobile home was destroyed and several others were damaged, a few feed silos were tipped over and rolled, and hundreds of livestock were killed by flying debris.[10] |
| EF2 | N ofPiedmont | Cherokee | AL | 33°59′01″N85°37′46″W / 33.9835°N 85.6295°W /33.9835; -85.6295 (Piedmont (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 1550–1554 | 3.61 mi (5.81 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | $75,000 | Metal roofing panels were torn from a barn, and half the roof was torn from a brick house. Two other homes and a barn also sustained structural damage. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[11] |
| EF3 | NW ofAragon to W ofEmerson | Polk,Floyd,Bartow | GA | 34°05′N85°07′W / 34.09°N 85.11°W /34.09; -85.11 (Aragon (Mar. 15, EF3)) | 1625–1645 | 16.93 mi (27.25 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | $7,500,000 | 2 deaths – A significant tornado began in Polk County, affecting 16 houses; 4 were destroyed (killing an occupant), 2 sustained major damage, 5 sustained minor damage, and 5 sustained even lesser damage. Several county outbuildings, barns, shops, vehicles, a motor home, a travel trailer, a dog kennel business, and several fences were heavily damaged. Hundreds of trees and power lines were downed, including several high tension power line support structures that were heavily impacted. Another 20 homes were impacted in Floyd County, with 10 destroyed (killing an occupant) and 10 affected insignificantly. Approximately 55 homes were affected in Bartow County, of which 6 were destroyed and 30 sustained minor damage. Taylorsville Elementary and Woodland High School sustained major damage, and some Georgia Power high transmission towers were toppled.[12][13][14] |
| EF0 | S ofRoyston | Franklin,Hart | GA | 34°16′23″N83°10′34″W / 34.273°N 83.176°W /34.273; -83.176 (Royston (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 1844–1851 | 3.24 mi (5.21 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | $0 | Trees and power lines were downed; a tree fell on a home.[15][16] |
| EF0 | NE ofAbbeville | Abbeville | SC | 34°14′29″N82°18′21″W / 34.2414°N 82.3058°W /34.2414; -82.3058 (Royston (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 1943 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | $0 | Trees and power lines were downed.[17] |
| EF1 | NE ofWinnsboro to SE ofKershaw | Fairfield,Kershaw | SC | 34°27′N80°58′W / 34.45°N 80.97°W /34.45; -80.97 (Winnsboro (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2010–2039 | 24.22 mi (38.98 km) | 80 yd (73 m) | $0 | A long-tracked tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees onto secondary roadways.[18][19] |
| EF2 | SSW ofCalhoun Falls | Elbert | GA | 34°00′27″N82°44′03″W / 34.0074°N 82.7341°W /34.0074; -82.7341 (Calhoun Falls (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2019–2030 | 8.04 mi (12.94 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $100,000 | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, two homes sustained heavy roof damage, a boat dock was tossed 25 ft (8.3 yd), and power lines were downed.[20] |
| EF3 | Silverstreet toProsperity to N ofChapin | Newberry,Richland | SC | 34°14′N81°46′W / 34.23°N 81.76°W /34.23; -81.76 (Silverstreet (Mar. 15, EF3)) | 2025–2047 | 27.51 mi (44.27 km) | 1,320 yd (1,210 m) | $10,000 | Many residences were heavily damaged, a few mobile homes sustained moderate damage, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[21][22] |
| EF1 | SE ofCalhoun Falls | Lincoln,McCormick | GA,SC | 33°57′36″N82°35′35″W / 33.96°N 82.593°W /33.96; -82.593 (Calhoun Falls (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2028–2047 | 12.62 mi (20.31 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | Several mobile homes sustained minor to moderate damage, and numerous trees were downed.[23][24] |
| EF2 | W ofCamden to NW ofBethune | Kershaw | SC | 34°16′N80°43′W / 34.27°N 80.72°W /34.27; -80.72 (Camden (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2030–2050 | 23.04 mi (37.08 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | Several homes and mobiles homes sustained moderate damage, mainly in the form of partially torn off roofs. A building on a poultry farm had its entire roof ripped off as well.[25] |
| EF1 | N ofMcBee | Chesterfield | SC | 34°32′42″N80°18′00″W / 34.545°N 80.3°W /34.545; -80.3 (McBee (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2047–2100 | 6.97 mi (11.22 km) | 110 yd (100 m) | $25,000 | A few mobile homes and a water tower sustained minor damage, while many trees and power lines were downed.[26] |
| EF2 | ENE ofMcCormick to SW ofMonetta | McCormick,Edgefield,Saluda | SC | 33°57′N82°11′W / 33.95°N 82.19°W /33.95; -82.19 (McCormick (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2102–2130 | 32.67 mi (52.58 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | Numerous trees and power lines were downed. One house and one mobile home were severely damaged, a second mobile home was split in two by a fallen tree, and several other houses and mobile homes sustained minor damage.[27][28][29] |
| EF2 | Elgin | Kershaw | SC | 34°11′N80°50′W / 34.18°N 80.83°W /34.18; -80.83 (Elgin (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2122–2131 | 6.89 mi (11.09 km) | 1,230 yd (1,120 m) | Unknown | Many houses had portions of its their roofs ripped off, four mobile homes were destroyed, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[30] |
| EF0 | Lugoff | SC | 34°13′N80°40′W / 34.22°N 80.67°W /34.22; -80.67 (Lugoff (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2133 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Unknown | Several homes sustained minor damage, and trees were downed.[31] | |
| EF0 | SE ofMonetta | Aiken | SC | 33°49′06″N81°34′52″W / 33.8183°N 81.581°W /33.8183; -81.581 (Monetta (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2137–2138 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $0 | Trees were downed.[32] |
| EF2 | WNW ofPelion | Lexington | SC | 33°48′00″N81°23′06″W / 33.8°N 81.385°W /33.8; -81.385 (Pelion (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2141–2154 | 8.33 mi (13.41 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | A mobile home was severely damaged, farm irrigation equipment was rolled and twisted, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Several other mobile homes sustained lesser damage.[33] |
| EF1 | SE ofBlythewood | Richland | SC | 34°10′N80°56′W / 34.17°N 80.93°W /34.17; -80.93 (Blythewood (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2143–2150 | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | A few homes had their roofs torn off while others only had portions removed. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[34] |
| EF0 | S ofLatta | Dillon | SC | 34°19′44″N79°26′12″W / 34.3288°N 79.4366°W /34.3288; -79.4366 (Latta (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2148–2150 | 1.36 mi (2.19 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | $50,000 | A large tree fell on a home; other trees were downed or damaged. Six homes sustained minor damage, and one trailer sustained major damage.[35] |
| EF1 | NE ofThomson | McDuffie,Columbia | GA | 33°36′N82°29′W / 33.6°N 82.49°W /33.6; -82.49 (Thomson (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2148–2203 | 9.9 mi (15.9 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $140,000 | One mobile home was destroyed and several others sustained moderate damage. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[36][37] |
| EF2 | NW ofWoodford toSt. Matthews to N ofElloree | Calhoun | SC | 33°42′18″N81°01′01″W / 33.705°N 81.017°W /33.705; -81.017 (St. Matthews (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2210–2238 | 24.39 mi (39.25 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | Several mobile homes sustained severe damage while other houses had their roofs ripped off. Several outbuildings were damaged, a few barns collapsed, and numerous trees were downed.[38] |
| EF0 | NE ofEvans | Edgefield | SC | 33°34′N82°02′W / 33.57°N 82.04°W /33.57; -82.04 (Evans (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2211–2213 | 3.74 mi (6.02 km) | 220 yd (200 m) | $0 | Several trees were downed.[39] |
| EF0 | SW ofJackson | Butts | GA | 33°14′49″N84°03′25″W / 33.247°N 84.057°W /33.247; -84.057 (Jackson (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2215–2219 | 4.42 mi (7.11 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $150,000 | A total of 136 homes sustained minor damage, a barn was destroyed, and many trees were downed.[40] |
| EF2 | Wrens toMatthews to N ofWaynesboro | Jefferson,Burke | GA | 33°12′37″N82°23′32″W / 33.2102°N 82.3922°W /33.2102; -82.3922 (Wrens (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2215–2245 | 22.07 mi (35.52 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | $500,000 | Several mobile homes were destroyed. Two businesses and a church were destroyed. Several other businesses, another church, and numerous homes were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[41][42] |
| EF0 | Fair Bluff | Columbus | NC | 34°18′26″N79°02′14″W / 34.3073°N 79.0373°W /34.3073; -79.0373 (Fair Bluff (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2216–2217 | 0.02 mi (0.032 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | Unknown | Several trees were snapped.[43] |
| EF2 | E ofAugusta to W ofWilliston | Aiken,Barnwell | SC | 33°29′N81°54′W / 33.49°N 81.9°W /33.49; -81.9 (Augusta (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2218–2248 | 25.51 mi (41.05 km) | 1,760 yd (1,610 m) | Unknown | Many homes sustained extensive damage to their roofs and structures. A water tower had its top ripped off and deposited several hundred yards away.[44][45] |
| EF1 | S ofTimmonsville | Florence | SC | 34°04′52″N80°00′39″W / 34.0811°N 80.0108°W /34.0811; -80.0108 (Timmonsville (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2225–2240 | 13.45 mi (21.65 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $605,000 | One house was destroyed while four others sustained major damage and seventy six others sustained minor damage. Nine mobile homes were completely destroyed, five mobile homes sustained major damage, and eight mobile homes sustained minor damage. Two businesses sustained major damage, thirteen barns and outbuildings were destroyed (and 3 others sustained major damage), and three people were injured.[46] |
| EF2 | N ofMayesville | Lee | SC | 34°07′30″N80°19′12″W / 34.125°N 80.32°W /34.125; -80.32 (Mayesville (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2252–2305 | 14.08 mi (22.66 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | Several houses, mobile homes, and a church sustained moderate to major damage. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[47] |
| EF0 | E ofElko | Barnwell | SC | 33°22′44″N81°21′36″W / 33.379°N 81.36°W /33.379; -81.36 (Elko (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2254–2255 | 0.58 mi (0.93 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $0 | Trees were downed in a convergent pattern.[48] |
| EF1 | S ofManning | Clarendon | SC | 33°32′N80°06′W / 33.53°N 80.1°W /33.53; -80.1 (Elko (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2258–2311 | 8.61 mi (13.86 km) | 220 yd (200 m) | Unknown | Many trees and power lines were downed. A few homes sustained minor to moderate damage.[49] |
| EF1 | Denmark | Bamberg | SC | 33°19′12″N81°07′58″W / 33.32°N 81.1327°W /33.32; -81.1327 (Denmark (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2305–2307 | 1.96 mi (3.15 km) | 220 yd (200 m) | Unknown | Utility poles were snapped, trees and power lines were downed, and several houses sustained moderate damage.[49] |
| EF1 | NE ofWaynesboro toGirard to NE ofSardis | Burke | GA | 33°06′N81°54′W / 33.1°N 81.9°W /33.1; -81.9 (Waynesboro (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2305–2315 | 15.23 mi (24.51 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $100,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were downed. One home had its windows broken, siding severely damaged, and part of the roof ripped off. Several mobile homes sustained minor to moderate damage.[50] |
| EF2 | S ofMartin toAllendale to NE ofFairfax | Allendale | SC | 33°02′N81°30′W / 33.03°N 81.5°W /33.03; -81.5 (Martin (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 2312–2335 | 18 mi (29 km) | 1,320 yd (1,210 m) | $2,300,000 | Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 trees were snapped, two mobile homes were destroyed, a cell phone tower was toppled, and inflicted mainly minor roof damage to dozens of residences. Numerous power lines and power poles were downed, several barns, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed, and an empty tractor trailer was overturned. One person was injured.[51] |
| EF0 | Aynor | Horry | SC | 33°59′39″N79°12′10″W / 33.9943°N 79.2028°W /33.9943; -79.2028 (Aynor (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2313–2314 | 0.27 mi (0.43 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | $5,000 | A mobile home, trees, and power lines were damaged. A carport was destroyed.[52] |
| EF1 | S ofGreeleyville | Williamsburg | SC | 33°32′15″N80°00′00″W / 33.5375°N 80°W /33.5375; -80 (Greeleyville (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2317–2320 | 2.49 mi (4.01 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | Unknown | Numerous large hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted.[53] |
| EF1 | SE ofBamberg | Bamberg | SC | 33°14′N80°56′W / 33.24°N 80.93°W /33.24; -80.93 (Bamberg (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2325–2329 | 3.76 mi (6.05 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | Numerous trees were downed in a convergent path.[54] |
| EF3 | Branchville | Orangeburg | SC | 33°14′24″N80°51′54″W / 33.24°N 80.865°W /33.24; -80.865 (Branchville (Mar. 15, EF3)) | 2329–2344 | 10.11 mi (16.27 km) | 1,320 yd (1,210 m) | Unknown | One residence was destroyed and sixteen others sustained minor to moderate damage. One mobile home was destroyed and six others sustained minor to moderate damage. Seven buildings were destroyed, including a couple of three-layer deep brick buildings; eighteen others sustained minor to major damage.[55] |
| EF1 | E ofLane | Williamsburg | SC | 33°29′32″N79°42′50″W / 33.4923°N 79.7139°W /33.4923; -79.7139 (Lane (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2336–2340 | 4.01 mi (6.45 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | $200,000 | Thirty-five homes were damaged, of which seven suffered major damage and five were completely destroyed.[56] |
| EF0 | NW ofGeorgetown | Georgetown | SC | 33°29′05″N79°22′21″W / 33.4848°N 79.3726°W /33.4848; -79.3726 (Georgetown (Mar. 15, EF0)) | 2354–2355 | 0.01 mi (0.016 km) | 25 yd (23 m) | Unknown | Eight trees were downed; one home sustained significant damage from a fallen tree, with its porch damaged and foundation shifted.[57] |
| EF1 | Hampstead | Pender | NC | 34°22′03″N77°42′52″W / 34.3676°N 77.7145°W /34.3676; -77.7145 (Hampstead (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 2356–2359 | 1.99 mi (3.20 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $2,000,000 | Eighteen homes were affected, of which fifteen sustained minor damage and three sustained major damage. Five mobile homes sustained minor damage while two sustained moderate damage. Ten businesses sustained minor damage, and an additional three sustained moderate damage. Trees were snapped.[58] |
| EF1 | N ofRidgeville | Dorchester | SC | 33°07′N80°19′W / 33.11°N 80.32°W /33.11; -80.32 (Ridgeville (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 0008–0011 | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | $218,000 | Roof panels were ripped from the canopy at Carters fast stop gas station, two mobile homes were damaged (with one shifted 5 ft (1.7 yd) off its foundation and the other having its windows and doors blown out), and a car was moved approximately 50 ft (17 yd).[59] |
| EF1 | N ofMount Holly | Berkeley | SC | 33°04′N80°02′W / 33.06°N 80.03°W /33.06; -80.03 (Mount Holly (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 0025–0026 | 0.6 mi (0.97 km) | 180 yd (160 m) | $150,000 | Two mobile homes sustained extensive damage, six mobile homes sustained moderate damage, and six mobile homes sustained minor damage. Large trees were snapped and uprooted. Seven people were injured.[60] |
| EF1 | ENE ofGoose Creek | SC | 33°03′N79°51′W / 33.05°N 79.85°W /33.05; -79.85 (Goose Creek (Mar. 15, EF1)) | 0036–0038 | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) | 135 yd (123 m) | $200,000 | A large storage shed was severely damaged, several large trees were downed. Mount Zion Methodist Church sustained complete failure of its front porch and had a portion of the roof deck uplifted; its steeple was toppled and portions of the outer brick wall sustained severe damage as well.[61] | |
| EF2 | NE ofSpringfield | Effingham | GA | 32°23′N81°19′W / 32.39°N 81.31°W /32.39; -81.31 (Springfield (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 0134–0143 | 7 mi (11 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $1,500,000 | Three mobile homes were destroyed, three to four dozen residences were damaged, and fifteen high voltage transmission towers were toppled. Twenty vehicles were damaged or destroyed, and numerous outbuildings, sheds, and barns were destroyed. Six people were injured.[62] |
| EF2 | NE ofRincon | GA | 32°20′N81°12′W / 32.33°N 81.2°W /32.33; -81.2 (Rincon (Mar. 15, EF2)) | 0144–0145 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $3,000,000 | A water cooling tower was destroyed and a second was damaged. Several buildings were damaged, two high voltage transmission towers were toppled, and several dozen trees were snapped or uprooted. Tractor trailer cargo containers were tossed up to 100 yd (91 m).[63] |
 Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel tornado damage; the other side of the building had even worse damage. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 14, 2008, 9:38 p.m.EDT (UTC−04:00) |
| Dissipated | March 14, 2008, 9:50 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) |
| Duration | 12 minutes |
| EF2 tornado | |
| on theEnhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 130 mph (210 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 30 |
CNN Center was severely damaged, including over 1,600 shatteredwindows and roof damage which resulted in flooding of the atrium. TheGeorgia World Congress Center also sustained serious damage to the roofs of all 3 buildings and to over 4,500 windows, as was theOmni Hotel, especially theskywalk between the two hotel towers over Andrew Young International Boulevard. This complex alone lost 476 windows, making it necessary to close the south tower to guests. Thefacades of theGeorgia Dome and aPhilips Arena parking garage were damaged while hostingbasketball games.[64]
Two of the giant columns inCentennial Olympic Park were knocked down, andinsulation was stuck intrees.[65] Trees on some other streets were blown completely down, despite being too early inspring to involve leafdrag.Glass was strewn across severalstreets, andAtlanta Police kept residents,hotel guests, andnews crews away from buildings with falling glass, which continued to pose a danger into the night.[64] Cars in the area were also damaged, and hotel and officefurniture was found scattered about.
TheRitz Carlton,Westin Peachtree Plaza,Georgia-Pacific Building,SunTrust Plaza (where more than 60 people had to be relocated out of their offices),Equitable Building, andGeorgia State University also had windows blown out (300 at Equitable alone), as did theTabernacle (a formerchurch withstained glass that is now a concert venue). The windows of the Westin continued to fall for days after the tornado, forcing police to keep several city blocks andMARTA'sPeachtree Center station closed to pedestrians. TheGeorgia World Congress Center also sustainedflooding while hosting aJROTC event and the Hinman Dental Meeting;Fox Sports Net tookfootage of astaircase in the new section of the complex that looked like afountain withwater cascading down it. The annual Atlanta Home Show and all other events were cancelled for the weekend in the GWCC complex, as was the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for the next day.WRAS FM atGeorgia State University was off the air for two days, though it was not stated whether its studio or tower sustained damage, or if this was due to security or safety concerns, or power outages. Thehistoric Rialto Theatre at GSU also sustained roof damage, which caused water damage inside.
Further east,Grady Hospital reported some damage to windows and apower outage. Many of the injured were taken there, and some walked there and were treated in theemergency room forcuts due to glass. TheKing MemorialMARTA station was damaged and was being bypassed by trains, with buses rerouted to the next station on each side.Oakland Cemetery suffered major damage tomonuments and to its hugeoaks andmagnolias, and thecaretaker foundwindow blinds around the neck of astatue of aCivil War veteran buried there.
In the nearbyCabbagetown area, abrickloft building (well known for the fire that occurred there in 1999, during its renovation from theFulton Bag and Cotton Mills, in which thecrane operator wasrescued byhelicopter during live TV news coverage) lost part of its roof, and part of the top (fifth) floor. Another building at The Stacks on Boulevard was damaged;search and rescue personnel were unable to enter, but everyone was accounted for by the management within a few hours.[66]
When the tornado hit, aSECtournament game betweenMississippi State andAlabama which had just been sent into overtime minutes earlier by a shot fromMykal Riley, was in progress at the Georgia Dome and being broadcast live on television. The storm ripped panels from the exterior of the building and tore two holes in the roof of the Dome, causing insulation to fall and thescoreboard andcatwalks suspended from the roof to sway; much of this was captured on camera, though the transmission from the arena was interrupted. Riley's shot was considered to have saved lives by keeping people safe inside the Georgia Dome. After a 64-minute delay, the game was completed; however the next scheduled game betweenKentucky andGeorgia was postponed.[67] The remainder of the tournament games were played atAlexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus ofGeorgia Tech, with spectators restricted to team and conference personnel, media, team bands, and families of players only due to the much smaller size of the alternate venue.[68] At the nearby Philips Arena, little disruption was noticed by the attendees during the game between the Hawks and theLos Angeles Clippers, even though damage occurred to the outside of the arena.[69]
Twenty-seven people were treated for injuries.[69] In addition, over 20 homes were completely destroyed.[70]
All ofCNN'sTV networks remained on the air, but there was damage to the glass roof of theCNN Center atrium, flooding part of the food court. Additionally, blown-out windows in the ground floor CNN.com newsroom and the fourth floor videotape library caused minor damage. Livenews coverage of the aftermath was carried onCNN International, in turnsimulcast domestically on CNN until 1 am EDT.[71] CNN resumed broadcasting from their main newsroom at 6 am EDT, showing several parts of the newsroom with computer stations covered withtarps, the damagedatrium of CNN Center, and staff using trash cans and buckets to collect dripping rainwater to the right of the anchor desk due to the damaged roof. When more storms moved in later in the day, the network was forced to move all Atlanta on-camera operations to the windowless CNN-I studio, while taped programming was shown for most of the day.[72]
The city received emergency assistance from theGeorgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA),Highway Emergency Response Operators (HEROs),Fulton andDeKalb counties (where Atlanta is situated), and surrounding cities and counties. Atlanta MayorShirley Franklin also declared astate of emergency for the city[73] and GovernorSonny Perdue issued a statestate of emergency declaration[74] for Atlanta enabling the city to seek disaster aid from theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). President Bush declared a major disaster on March 20.[75]
At the time, it was the most expensive tornado in Atlanta history, in raw U.S. dollars, after the1999 Oklahoma City tornado, costing a half-billion dollars.[76]
