Residents describe storm damage in west Macon neighborhood after early morning storms
Neighbors along Thomaston Road and Lochwolde Drive say strong winds shattered windows and caused significant damage to homes
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Residents along Thomaston Road and Lochwolde Drive in west Macon woke up early Thursday morning to strong winds and the sound of breaking glass as storms moved through the area.
Some neighbors say the storm happened so quickly they barely had time to process what was happening before the damage began.
Toby Taylor says the storm woke him up suddenly.
“It sounded like a train,” he said. “I grabbed my girlfriend, ripped her off the bed just in time,” Taylor said.
Taylor says he received a weather alert on his phone but heard the storm before he could even finish reading it.
“I woke up to the text and I wasn’t even done reading it before I heard the whistle,” he said. “I thought it was almost the AC kicking on, it was really strange I guess.”
Taylor says he and his girlfriend rushed to the bathroom for safety as the storm pushed through their home.
When the storm passed, he says the damage inside the house became clear.
“By the time I got to the living room, there was just water pouring out of every light fixture, every vent,” he said. “The windows were all shattered and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, we definitely took a big hit on this one.”
Taylor’s neighbor, Kajalon King, who lives just a few houses away, says his home was also damaged during the storm.
“This morning, woke up, I was getting ready for school and I just heard a lot of wind,” King said. “Next thing you know windows broke, and water and all that just started coming through the house.”
Roofing crews were already in the neighborhood Thursday assessing the damage and helping homeowners figure out the next steps.
James Abney with Ark Roofing says the neighborhood experienced significant storm damage.
“Look, right here, we got whole roofs torn off, rafters, foundation structural damage,” he said. “It’s not just your average storm, but it’s significant. It’s gonna take a few months to get back right.”
Neighbors say while repairs may take time, they are thankful everyone in the neighborhood made it through the storm safely.
