Tuesday, March 19, 2013

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- Homeowners across the greater Augusta area are left cleaning up the aftermath after severe storms swept through the area Monday night.

The storms whipped through the Southeast, producing storms with heavy winds, rain and even hail in Alabama and other parts of Georgia before moving toward the CSRA.

Most of the area saw severe storms, but Burke County was under a tornado warning until about 9:45 p.m.

Georgia Power crews are working to get the power back on for 73,000 customers. That number was down to 30,000 by Tuesday morning.

Jefferson Energy Cooperative says their crews are working to fix power outages in multiple counties. The outages as of 3 p.m. are: Burke 21, Emanuel 12, Glascock 107, Jefferson 102, McDuffie 13.

"With lines torn down and broken poles, it has been a lengthy process," said the company in a news release.

Screven County Schools canceled classes after losing power at the middle school. Classes will resume on Wednesday.

One of the areas hit hardest by the storms was Louisville, which is where the attached video comes from.

In a news release, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens says he and his team are read to help with storm damage claims. If you need help, call 1-800-656-2298 or (404) 656-2070 if you're in the Metro area.

Advice from Commissioner Hudgens:

• Contact your agent or insurance company immediately.
  
• Protect your property from further damage. For example, if your roof is damaged, cover it with tarp to prevent water damage from rain. Most policies will not cover such damage.
  
• Keep an accurate record, including receipts for labor and material, of repair expenses. Do not dispose of damaged property until it is examined by the insurance adjuster.
  
• A typical homeowner’s or commercial property policy does not cover removal of downed trees, unless the tree falls on a covered structure, such as the house.
  
• Hail damage to your car is typically covered by the comprehensive/collision portion of your automobile insurance policy; hail damage to your home -- your roof, for example -- is covered by your homeowners policy.
  
• Policies will normally cover contents at their cash value, which means their used value; however, most companies offer a replacement cost option, which will pay for new items.

If you have any photos of storm damage, send them to us at web@wrdw.com or post on our Facebook page.

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