Crime & Safety

Gwinnett Spared Brunt of Severe Storm Overnight

Gwinnett Fire Capt. says our area fortunate because storm weakened as it approached.

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services responded to only a few weather related incidents as a storm system moved through the area between midnight and 2 a.m. overnight (April 28).

The system brought a brief period of gusty winds, rain, and lightning to portions of the county.  The storms seemed to weaken as they approached Gwinnett. "We are very fortunate that the storms broke apart and lessened in intensity as they moved into our area," Gwinnett Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge reported. "Our thoughts and prayers are now with those who were less fortunate in Northwest Georgia and Alabama.  The amount of damage and number of injuries and deaths being reported in Alabama and Georgia is heartbreaking. It could have been any of us.  We were just part of the lucky ones tonight," Rutledge said.

Below is a brief synopsis of the storm response activity for Gwinnett firefighters:

TREE DOWN ON A HOUSE – 1800 block of Fort River Way NE in Dacula. No one reportedly inside the house and no injuries reported.  The call was dispatched on 4/28/11 at 12:50 a.m. 

TREE DOWN ON CAR – 1100 block of Empire Circle off Club Drive NW in Lawrenceville. There are no injuries reported.  The call was dispatched on 4/28/11 at 12:40 a.m. 

TREE DOWN ACROSS THE ROADWAY – Highway 316 Eastbound near Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. The tree was blocking two eastbound lanes of the roadway.  There were no injuries reported. The tree has been removed and the scene is clear.  The call was dispatched on 4/28/11 at 12:34 a.m.       

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