The northern part of Sandy Springs was hit late Friday afternoon (Aug. 17) with what has been described as a possible small twister, a micro burst or just a severe thunderstorm with very high winds.
There has been no confirmation of a twister, but whatever it was it wreaked havoc in Huntcliff and along Roberts Drive and kept the Sandy Springs Police and Fire Department busy for hours, along with crews from the city’s Public Works Department and Georgia Power.
According to Councilwoman Dianne Fries, there was a fire on Pond House Street in Huntcliff which was caused by a lightning strike, and several homes in the neighborhood were hit by fallen trees. She reported that one was at 9310 Huntcliff Trace. Three trees also blocked the roadway, but were removed by fire department personnel.
Along Roberts Drive near the Nigerian Consulate’s house, Fries said three or four trees went down in his yard and knocked down a telephone pole and power transformer. Georgia Power had the power back on by 7 a.m. Saturday.
Fries sent an email to city personnel Saturday alerting them to the fact the storm might put the city’s new “emergency permitting” procedure to trial as homeowners sought to get repair work done to their damaged homes. However, the Reporter was told Aug. 21 that no one had sought an emergency permit.
Tuesday, Aug. 21 also proved to be eventful as the day began with another water main break from late the previous evening that virtually shut down the intersection of Roswell Road and Wieuca until late in the day.