NEWNAN, Ga. (AP) – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Saturday toured the wreckage left after a tornado tore through the city of Newnan and other parts of Coweta and Heard counties.
During a press conference at Newnan High School, one of the hardest-hit spots, Kemp said he was committed to helping the community recover, WXIA-TV reported.
“We are going to do everything in our power with the state resources that we have to help this community rebuild,” Kemp said. “But I have great hope and optimism that they (residents) will pull their bootstraps up and we will be there to help them rebuild and continue on.”
The National Weather Service rated the twister an EF-4 tornado and believes winds may have peaked at 170 mph (275 kph) early Friday morning. Houses and other structures had roofs torn off, large trees were completely uprooted – some homes were even moved off their foundations. One person was killed in the storm after experiencing a “medical emergency” while trapped inside their home buried under limbs and debris.
“It is a lot different than anything I’ve ever seen. Just total destruction in many places,” Kemp said.