Georgia Storms’ Early Damage Estimate Put At $25 Million

February 23, 2009

Sonny Perdue has declared a state of emergency in four Georgia counties following Wednesday’s violent storms that spawned 11 tornadoes, killing one person and injuring 22 others.

Perdue issued an executive order Friday for Hancock, Jasper, Thomas and Warren counties. Those four were hit hardest by the storms, which Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine estimates caused at least $25 million in insured damage across the state.

One insurance company alone, State Farm, said Thursday it expects to see as many as 750 claims from homeowners and businesses and as many as 1,000 claims for damaged vehicles.

In the Hancock County town of Sparta, Johnny Frank Baker was killed when his home was destroyed by the storm.