Friday, Dec. 23, 2011

ROME, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities say at least seven people were injured in Georgia Thursday as powerful storms roared across the state, damaging homes, downing trees and zapping power.

National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Garcia said a survey team plans to visit Gordon County Friday afternoon to determine whether a tornado was responsible for destroying one home and damaging several others near Calhoun.

In the northwest Georgia city of Rome, high winds tore the roof off a building at Shorter University.

Floyd County Emergency Management Director Scotty Hancock tells the Rome News-Tribune the storm toppled 50 trees. CBS Atlanta reports that an employee of a Rome insurance business escaped serious injury when strong winds tossed debris onto her body. Beams and girders were all that remained of the building Friday morning.

(Copyright 2011, The Associated Press)