Coweta County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), in partnership with Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), the City of Newnan and Coweta County Government, has completed its initial damage assessment following the March 26, 2021 tornado that struck Coweta County and the City of Newnan.
Initial assessments estimate a total of 1,744 impacted homes with approximately 120 sustaining major damage and 70 homes destroyed. These numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Due to the extent of damages, GEMA/HS has requested that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conduct joint preliminary damage assessments that will begin during the week of April 5. The results of those assessments will be used to determine if damage thresholds have been met for a Federal Disaster Declaration.
As we await the final assessment, Coweta County EMA is continuing to work with City and County officials, along with local and state mutual aid agencies and non-profit organizations to help with short-term and long-term recovery efforts.
The following are key updates on behalf of the City and County.
City of Newnan
- More than 100 contractors have registered with the City of Newnan to perform restorative services (i.e., demolition, construction, roofing, etc.) in the city limits.
- The city will continue to issue permits related directly to storm remediation (i.e., demolition, construction, roofing, etc.) at Newnan City Hall, 2nd Floor – Building Department, 25 LaGrange Street, Newnan, GA 30263 from the hours of Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. For more information, please contact the City of Newnan’s Building Department at 770-254-2362.
- For electric power service, please reach out to Newnan Utilities.
- Newnan Utilities has temporarily suspended service for structures that have been tagged with an “unsafe” placard by the city’s damage assessment team for occupancy safety purposes only.
- For the latest updates from the City of Newnan, please stay tuned to social media and the Newnan Tornado Disaster Relief Page: http://www.cityofnewnan.org/government/newnan_tornado_disaster_relief_updates_page.php
Coweta County
- Coweta County is partnering with SAFEbuilt to survey homes and buildings throughout Coweta County to determine unsafe living conditions.
- The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is continuing to clean up and remove debris from County roads and subdivisions.
- The County is waiving building permit fees for structures impacted by the disaster. The Board of Commissioners (BOC) is considering additional policies to assist with rebuilding. If you have questions regarding building permits, please email [email protected].
- Starting April 5, the Superior Court Clerk’s Office, the State Court Clerk’s Office and Magistrate Court (first floor of the Justice Center) and the Juvenile Justice Center will be open. Starting April 7, the second floor of the Justice Center will be open for some courtroom proceedings. For citizens who have upcoming court dates, please call the appropriate office for further direction.
- For citizens in need of shelter/financial assistance, please call the American Red Cross at 800-RED-CROSS.
- For citizens in need of supplies, non-perishable food, showers, laundry and mental health services, come by the Coweta County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily.
- At this time, the County is not accepting donations at the Fairgrounds.
- For tornado relief (i.e. citizen questions, volunteer opportunities, etc.), please call 910-632-3309.
- For the latest updates, please follow the Coweta County Government website and social media pages.
