Emergency Roofing After Hail Bombards Central Georgia & Tornadoes Devastate Communities Outside Savannah on April 5, 2022

Central Georgia and the Savannah area were battered by hailstones and tornados Tuesday, April 5th, causing fatalities, widespread property destruction, and Gov. Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency. RestoreMasters field crews are responding to secure the roofs of commercial buildings before another storm strikes.

Early reports indicate the severe weather events resulted in at least three deaths and multiple serious injuries, according to The Weather Channel. Residents in Bryan County were advised to hold off on cleanup as other fast-moving storms race through Mississippi and Alabama en route to Georgia. Upwards of 68 tornado sightings were reported across the three states and into South Carolina. Northern Florida sustained high winds that did not result in funnel clouds.

A twister touched down near Bryan County Courthouse Complex in Pembroke before carving a path through the Park Place and Homestead neighborhoods, downing power lines and tearing roofs. The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office reportedly mobilized all available personnel for search and rescue operations, and multiple agencies are providing material support. As of Wednesday morning, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as well as neighboring police departments and sheriff’s offices, were fully engaged in the recovery effort.

In Macon, homes and commercial buildings saw roofs torn away as debris fell inside structures. Some residents suffered total losses as multiple tornados left wakes of devastation across Georgia and other states. To the south of Macon, the Houston County Emergency Management communicated via Facebook that road crews were working to clear trees and repair downed power lines near Statham’s Landing and Old Hawkinsville Road.

Adding insult to injury, hail pelted the communities of Guyton, Ellabell, and The Rock. Guyton residents in Effingham County saw ice the size of golf balls pelt rooftops, and automobiles at approximately 4:46 pm. Lamar County sustained mid-sized ice balls the size of half-dollars that blanketed The Rock after dark. But Ellabell residents in Bryan County were pounded by frozen stones the size of baseballs.

Local weather maps demonstrate that hailstorms spread west of Highway 67 and as far east as Rincon. The heaviest ice fall pummeled areas around Route 16, north of Black Creek. The hail size map of this storm shows the largest hail diameter at 2.5-inch and bigger (purple), 1.75 to 2-inch (dark orange), 1.25 to 1.75-inch (orange), and 1-inch plus (yellow). Accompanying wind damage impacted a Solar Farm On Old Louisville Road in Jenkins County, downed tree at Blounts Crossing in Ridgeville, severed power lines on 11th Street in Lakeland, and Wayne County flea market structures were damaged, and a semi-truck was toppled. The tornado path is represented by the thin black ribbon.

Strong winds can rip open some roofing systems and cause severe roof wind damage. Some older roofs can be damaged by winds as low as 50 miles per hour. The severity of roof damage depends on several factors including: type and age of roofing materials, presence of flying debris, roof shape and angle, building height and proximity to adjacent structures and the quality of original roof installation.

Following severe weather like this, it's important to get a thorough roof inspection & property damage assessment to determine whether or not you have roof damage from hail or wind. If roof leaks do occur, an experienced disaster roofing contractor can stop leaks with tarping or shrink wrapping, where affected areas (or the entire roof) is covered with a durable shrink wrapped plastic membrane till permanent repairs can take place.

Even if you don't think your roof was damaged, you will want to get your roof inspected if your property falls anywhere within the hail damage map. Some storm damage problems do not produce symptoms right away. And insurance company deadlines could hinder your ability to file a claim later.

Emergency response crews are available to assist commercial property owners with roof damage, siding and window damage and turnkey restoration services.

Our clients include: schools, hospitals, hotels, churches, resorts, retail, warehouse, industrial and other commercial properties as well as residential properties with hail or wind damage to tile roofing systems.

If your building recently sustained damage due to wind, hail, falling trees, collapsed roof or other storm-related issues, give us a call today.

RestoreMasters is a hail damage roofing and restoration contractor and provides storm damage restoration services including: commercial and industrial roofing, emergency roof repair, tarping & shrink wrap roofing, tile roof repair, water removal, debris cleanup, disaster response, interior restoration and construction services to rebuild your property.

If you need help, contact RestoreMasters.

As large loss claims experts, our team works directly with your insurance company to get your facility back on its feet. A turnkey restoration contractor, we can help you with all phases of restoration from emergency response services to total build back.

Our team of professionals includes: insurance claims experts, public adjusters, building engineers, roofing engineers, interior construction experts, large loss attorneys and other professionals specialized in storm damage insurance restoration projects.

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• CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator
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