Damage reports have been released from Thursday’s strong storms that rolled through Cherokee County. The National Weather Service received numerous reports from the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency of downed trees and hail ranging from pea sized up to golf ball sized across the County.

At 4:33pm – Doppler Radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Summerville, Georgia to near eastern Weiss Lake – with movement being westward around 10mph.  Forecasters were saying winds in excess of 40 mph would be possible and affected areas could include Centre, Cedar Bluff, Forney, Gaylesville, Tennala, the Cornwall Furnace Park, Blanche, Moshat, Fullerton, New Moon, Broomtown, Howell’s Crossroads, and Desoto State Park among others.

That system included frequent cloud to ground lightning and everyone in the affected areas was advised to seek shelter indoors.

By 5:45 Cherokee County had already received one-and-a-half inches of rainfall – an “Areal Flood Advisory” was issued moments later, to be in effect until 8:00pm.

At 5:54pm, reports of pea-sized hail started coming in from Railroad Avenue in Cedar Bluff, and from locations in Gaylesville. 

It was at this point reports of downed trees started coming in from a number of locations in the county, including County Road 75 north of Cedar Bluff, County Roads 225, 255, and 128, as well as Valley Acres Road.  There was also damage done to some power lines as a result.

Cherokee County Farmer Nick McMichen said that 250 acres of his cotton crop are a complete loss and there’s significant damage to another thousand acres with an estimated loss of $250,000.

McMichen says other farmers in the area are facing the same unexpected cotton losses. But they all know it’s part of the business they’ve dedicated their lives to.  

Insurance adjusters will be out surveying the damage Monday. One option for farmers is to plant soybeans to replace the damaged cotton crop and try to recoup some of their losses.