Damage assessment and cleanup is underway in parts of Georgia after severe storms moved through the state Thursday afternoon and evening.
Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency directing state agencies to focus on helping hard-hit communities and providing emergency funds.
Initial reports by the National Weather Service indicate a tornado touched down in the City of Griffin. Survey teams on the ground are now working to determine whether a tornado or tornadoes did indeed touch down and to establish a track.
Public schools in Spalding, Newton, Henry, Troup, Butts, and Jasper counties are closed today. At one point, more than 100,000 homes and businesses had no power.
So far, one death has been reported - that of a five year old who died when a tree toppled on top of the vehicle the child was riding in.
