Mother's Day Tornado Outbreak in Georgia - May 11, 2008

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Mother's Day Tornado Outbreak in Georgia - Damage Photos
May 11, 2008

Clayton, Henry, Rockdale and Newton Counties

Mother's Day 2008 will be remembered by many in Georgia as a day of fury by Mother Nature. Severe thunderstorms plowed through portions of North and Central Georgia during the morning hours of May 11, 2008 resulting in damaging wind, large hail and several tornadoes. At least one person was killed by a tornado and several were injured. The damage was so extensive in some areas that Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in six Georgia counties, and some schools were closed for a couple of days.

in Clayton, Henry, Rockdale and Newton Counties Counties...

An EF2 tornado with maximum winds up to 130 mph touched down in extreme northeast Clayton County near the Henry County line just east of Interstate 675 around 517 am. Shortly after...the tornado caused significant damage over a 2.5 square mile area in the Ellenwood community. 188 private dwellings were damaged...53 of which were destroyed or uninhabitable. 500 residents were displaced. The tornado weakened as it continued into Henry County and Rockdale County intermittently downing trees and power lines before lifting in extreme western Newton Nounty near Georgia Highway 20. Path length was 19 miles and the maximum width was 100 yards wide.

Samples of Damage Seen During Survey ( click images to enlarge )
Home demolished in Clayton County.	Home demolished in Clayton County.	Damage to home in Clayton County.
Home nearly demolished.	Damage to home in Clayton County.	Damage to home in Clayton County.