Photos: Newnan picks up the pieces after F4 tornado

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In March, a tornado tore through Heard, Coweta and Fayette counties, wrecking Newnan High School and Atkinson Elementary School, as well as wiping out 70 homes and damaging nearly 1,700 others.

In March, an EF4 tornado tore through Heard, Coweta and Fayette counties, packing 170 m.p.h. winds, and leaving more than 1,7000 houses damaged. Several weeks later, residents in Newnan continue cleanup efforts. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Jason Rose cleans up downed trees in the backyard of his mother’s property in Newnan. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Some of Newnan's historic homes suffered damage from the strong winds, including this home with toppled Ionic columns. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

The antebellum Buena Vista home in Newnan suffered tornado damage to its roof and Ionic columns. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Homes in this neighborhood of Newnan suffered busted windows, damaged roofs and a loss of siding from the March tornado. The twister wiped out 70 homes and damaged nearly 1,700 others. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

The tornado that tore through Heard, Coweta and Fayette counties disgorged more than 500,000 cubic yards of debris. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

A large tree lies on its side after being ripped from the roots outside of Newnan High School. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

The roof of Newnan High School's weight room also saw damage. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

The old gymnasium at Newnan High School also suffered damage to its ceiling and water on its court. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Workmen survey the damage to the outside of Newnan High School. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

A workman sweeps up debris outside the damaged Newnan High School. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

A workman surveys damage to uprooted trees at Newnan High School. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Newnan High School principal Chase Puckett surveys the damage at the school from an EF4 tornado. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

The morning the sky split open and one Southside Atlanta community lost its schools and 70 homes

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In March, an EF4 tornado tore through Heard, Coweta and Fayette counties, packing 170 m.p.h. winds, and leaving more than 1,7000 houses damaged. Several weeks later, residents in Newnan continue cleanup efforts. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

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