Tornado-like winds ripped through downtown Atlanta shortly before 10 p.m., damaging the Georgia Dome where the SEC men's basketball tournament was underway, and leaving damage and broken glass all over the area.

Police and fire officials in Atlanta, overwhelmed by calls, were unable to give information on how widespread the damage was. Reports of damaged homes and downed trees came in from Cabbagetown and Midtown as well.

Basketball fans inside the Dome reported seeing the large monitor over the court and some scaffolding swaying around 9:40 p.m., and then debris began falling from the roof inside the Dome as fans left their seats and huddled in the concourse looking for safety.

Curtains that drape the sides of the Dome blew open, and fans said they could see lightning outside the building when the curtains blew open.

Outside the Dome, trees were blown down along Northside Drive and widows were blown out of the Omni Hotel and CNN Center, along with other office buildings. Cabbagetown reported extensive damage to homes there.

Although ambulances and firemen swarmed around the downtown area and closed off streets, only minor injuries were reported by observers on the scene.

The exterior sheathing that covers the Philips arena parking deck could be seen hanging in large 30-foot-by20-foot foot strip.

The Atlanta Police Department was unable to comment on the extent of the damage and the National Weather Service in Peachtree City could not immediately confirm whether the winds were a tornado.

Many speculated that only a twister could have left such damage.

Raymond Sheffield, 34, of Dallas, Texas, said he was in town for a dental convention and was eating at Ted's Montana Grill on Spring Street downtown with two other people from the convention. They had been there for a while and had just gotten their desserts, and suddenly, a bunch of debris started slamming into the glass front of the window – pieces of tree, debris coming off of buildings.

"I would say more than half of the windows are gone" from the front of the restaurant, Sheffield said. "What's left is basically hanging on and ready to fall."

Greg Ledbetter, 35, of Knoxville TN, was in town with his girlfriend and her best friend for the SEC basketball tournament. They had watched Tennessee play earlier today and sold their tickets for tonight's Kentucky game. They were sitting in Jock N Jill's restaurant in the CNN Center, drinking beer.

"Then the TV went black and said, 'tornado warning.'" He said, "People were just busting through the door, screaming and yelling," coming inside from out of the storm. "It was just a madhouse. It was scary."

Inside the Dome, Scott Wise of Tupelo, Miss. said he was sitting in Section 107, Row 1, which are temporary bleachers courtside, when he was almost hit by a 1/2-inch long bolt.

"A big old bolt just fell out of the top," Wise said. "It hit right beside my chair. I had no idea what was going on. I looked up and thought the roof was going to come in."

A washer also landed near press row.

A huge panel on the north side of the Dome was ripped open by the storm.

"It was strange. My initial thought was the Kentucky people were stomping their feet above us," Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said. "I've never been through anything like that before. Hopefully, we'll get the game in tonight. I trust the people at the Dome."

Outside heavy road barricades were blown out into the street and trees along the sidewalk along Northside Drive were uprooted. Traffic lights were also out for about six blocks around the area and power appeared to also be out along southwest Martin Luther King Drive and Northside Drive.

Dozens of police cars and ambulances were swarming around the area at 10 p.m. and officials closed off streets clogged by debris, downed lines and traffic lights — approximately four or five square blocks where thousands of people were visiting for the SEC basketball game.

Mike Curry of Kentucky was in town for the SEC game, saying, "We started seeing the big monitor over the court start swaying back and forth. Then debris started falling from the ceiling. I've been through a tornado before and I feel like that's what this was."

Curry said he believed he saw ceiling tiles fall from the roof, but he didn't see anyone get injured. Many spectators were milling about outside the Georgia Dome. Pieces of pink styrofoam were blowing all over the area outside the Dome.

A Fulton County sheriff's deputy said there had been injuries but he didn't know if they were inside or outside of the Dome.

As another strong thunderstorm appeared to be approaching the downtown area, police and began to order everyone back inside the dome at 10:25 p.m. saying "another one is coming."

Staff writers Tim Eberly, Chandler Brown and Anisha Frizzell contrbitued to this report