Storm downs trees, knocks out power in Augusta area

Bad weather and power outages caused havoc across the Augusta area Monday afternoon.

The Richmond County Fire Department was working to free people trapped in homes by fallen trees at 1411 Ranch Drive and 940 Heard Ave., and firefighters worked to free a person trapped in an elevator at 444 Board St., said spokeswoman Dee Griffin. Firefighters were also working a fire Monday afternoon in the Haverty’s Furniture’s warehouse 3411 Wrightsboro Road.

PHOTOS: Storm damage in the Augusta area

There were reports of trees down on the north side of Augusta and wind gusts of 49 mph at Lake Thurmond Dam, said meteorologist Rich Okulski with the National Weather Service in Columbia.

“In Lincoln County, we ended up with 20 trees down along Thomson Highway,” he said. ” We had individual thunderstorms that went through and then just a line that went through in (mid-afternoon). Behind that it is going to be pretty quiet, at least until Wednesday. Then Wednesday, it will be Round 2. It does not look promising for part of Wednesday. Thursday and Friday will be nice but very breezy to windy. It won’t be ideal golfing weather probably until Saturday or Sunday for the final two rounds.”

The power outages were expected to be corrected by this evening for 11,092 Georgia Powers customers in Augusta.

The city has 82 outages in numerous areas along end the east end of Broad Street, and sections of Wrightsboro Road, National Hills, Wheeler and Walton Way.

To see the outages, go to outagemap.georgiapower.com/external/default.html.

In Columbia County, authorities said a dock and structure at Pointes West marina was damaged, but there were no known serious injuries. There were many downed trees reported in the county, as well.