Winds from storm knock out power in North Georgia

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida wasn't the only weather problem Wednesday as high winds knocked trees down onto power lines, causing a major power outage that shut down one northeast Georgia school system.

Banks County schools were closed Wednesday because of what the National Weather Service called a "blackout" in Homer.

Trees were reported down on numerous Banks County roads, and one tree fell on a horse Tuesday night, killing the animal, the Weather Service reported.

Most of Georgia was under a wind advisory until 7 p.m. Wednesday, as forecasters predicted winds of 15 to 30 mph, gusting to 40 mph. Wind gusts of 35 mph were reported between 8 and 9 a.m. in Lawrenceville and Athens.

At 9 a.m., Georgia Power reported 2,900 customers without electricity statewide, including 800 on the south side of metro Atlanta, 750 in northeast Georgia and 278 on the east side of metro Atlanta.

As of 5 p.m., about 85 customers of electric membership cooperatives in DeKalb and Newton counties.