Catoosa County first responders, public works and general government employees are working around the clock to help people who have been impacted by severe weather that moved through the area on Sunday, according to a news release from public relations specialist John Pless.
Preliminary assessments show high winds and tornadoes damaged or destroyed about 70 residential buildings, mostly in the Fort Oglethorpe and Morris Estates communities, according to 911 Emergency Management Director Steve Quinn.
No significant injuries or fatalities have been reported. Assessments are in the works to determine damage to several commercial buildings and reduce hazards in and around those structures, as well as power lines and flooded roads.
Some roads remain closed due to flooding, including the Five Points area of Ringgold, the Wood Station and Graysville communities and Industrial Boulevard. First responders managed to help manufacturing employees get home safely after their vehicles became stranded.
“There is a lot of flooding in areas that we haven’t before seen impacted like this,” Public Works Director Buster Brown said in the release. “Our employees have been on the job since Sunday night working with Fort Oglethorpe and utility crews to clear roads and untangle wires from fallen trees.”