‘A tornado hit your place’: Twisters strike Burke, Screven, Allendale counties: news

Severe Storm Outbreak: Tornadoes Strike Burke, Screven, and Allendale Counties

Severe storms tore across parts of eastern Georgia and western South Carolina, spawning damaging tornadoes that swept through Burke, Screven, and Allendale counties. The dangerous weather system downed trees, crippled power grids, and ripped roofs from structures, prompting widespread emergency operations and rescue responses across the impacted communities.

Destructive Path Across the Georgia–South Carolina Border

Radar-confirmed rotations and storm spotter reports tracked severe tornadic cells moving rapidly toward the northeast, crossing from rural southeastern Georgia into South Carolina.

• Burke County, Georgia: Multiple tornado warnings were triggered as severe thunderstorms swept near Waynesboro, Midville, and Gough. High-velocity winds uprooted mature trees, blocked primary transit corridors, and damaged outbuildings and residential structures.

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• Screven County, Georgia: A particularly large and intense twister was tracked near Captolo, Newington, and Hunters. Eyewitnesses reported significant structural devastation, with roofs sheared off homes, scattered debris across roadways, and extensive damage to agricultural infrastructure.

• Allendale County, South Carolina: As the supercell tracked over the Savannah River basin, tornadic damage was confirmed near Appleton and town centers across Allendale County. Emergency crews encountered downed utility poles, snapped timber, and damaged properties.

Emergency Response and Power Outages

Utility providers mobilized rapid-restoration crews as thousands of households experienced immediate power interruptions caused by collapsed power poles and downed transmission lines. County emergency management agencies urge residents to exercise extreme caution:

1. Avoid Fallen Lines: Treat all downed electrical cables as energized and hazardous.

2. Clear Roadways for First Responders: Refrain from traveling into hard-hit disaster zones to allow emergency teams and utility repair vehicles clear access.

3. Document Structural Damage: Photograph property impacts before cleanup begins to support insurance filings and local relief assessments.

The National Weather Service will conduct comprehensive ground-survey assessments to determine the official Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale ratings, path lengths, and peak wind speeds of the twisters. Local authorities continue to evaluate injuries and provide emergency shelter resources to displaced families.