The Aftermath of the Tornado in Atlanta

Riverdale, Georgia -- On March 14, a Friday evening, a terrible storm entered downtown Atlanta. I was at home as the thunder and rain began and was watching Ghost Whisperers. The news interrupted several times with the change in weather and the extremes. One thing I can tell you is that I didn't need the news to tell me things were getting scary. Clayton County where I reside, got hit with the lashes of the true storm that hit Atlanta. My windows began to tremble. I took my daughter to the lower floor and built a tent to make it a fun time instead of terrifying.

The lightening continued to flash at times making it look as though it wasn't morning but the last bit of lightening that hit, knocked right on my door with the icy fingers of hail. It was like someone standing at my window and shining lights in, shaking the door with the resonating treble of thunder. Once again Ghost Whisper was interrupted for the last time with what was occurring in Atlanta. I didn't hesitate to call my friend, whom was a game at the Georgia Dome, to find out if he was alright, given that the pictures on the news showed a tree pulled out of the concrete and several buildings like the Sun Trust windows busted out, I began to worry.

My friend, Malcolm, was OK. He was a bit shaken but OK.

Monday was the first time I went into Atlanta since the storm. My mouth dropped open as I saw the billboards torn apart and one being held in place by a crane. The windows of the GP building were shattered. I saw some gaping holes where the glass was shattered, and where planks of wood was placed in other areas where there was no glass. Georgia Power was intact not one problem. Once again looking to the left the Westin Hotel was a horrible sight to behold. There were jagged areas where the windows were broken and gaping darkness where others had been completely broken. This hotel was moved 3 feet. Grady Hospital had wood planks covering where windows once were. As I continued further through downtown several exits were closed and streets blocked such as some parts of Peachtree St., Spring Street, parts of Edgewood, and so many more.

Centennial Park was covered in glass with work crews cleaning glass. My God, the only thing I could think through so much devastation was how much of a blessing that no one had been killed. Having seen the Cotton Mill Lofts collapsed roof and windows sucked out with glass broken, it was amazing that no one was hurt. Even today the image of the towering buildings of Atlanta boarded windows has caused traffic to slow in various areas as many people, I believe just like me, take in the depressing image of these once immaculate structures.

Even now I remember when the same weather interruption from Channel 46 news came on, with the newscasters giving their views of it being just harsh winds wreaking havoc on the city, that it couldn't be a tornado because tornado's have never hit the downtown metropolitan Atlanta area. Only in the light of day were those fog like illusion cleared away, to discover it was much more and their fears from the night before had been realized. The World Congress Center has suffered but has not been destroyed, The Omni Hotel has suffered but has not been destroyed, The Georgia Dome has suffered but has not been destroyed as well as Grady Hospital, and the mercy given in lives not taken is a true testament to God's mercy.

If you plan to enter downtown Atlanta, as I stated previously there are streets shut down and because of glass still falling from the towering behemoths, even more are being shut down to protect the public. So beware and be safe and remember that yes a tornado will come when and where ever it chooses but lives are not always lost and anything else is simply replaceable.