Storms cause damage in northwest Georgia counties

Daiki Corporation president Bill Warner received quite a surprise when he arrived at the Bartow County plant Wednesday: a fast-moving thunderstorm had ripped ventilation fans, ductwork and wiring off the roof. <br> <br> Warner said, ``When I got here at 5:30 a-m, the roof was in the parking lot. We also had some structural damage to the walls.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Daiki, which makes steel plate components for construction equipment, is a highly computerized operation that has been in Adairsville for six years. Manufacturing manager Jason Weiss said about ten workers were in the plant when the storm hit, and the only warning they had was a roaring sound. <br> <br> One employee, Chuck Wiley, was hit by flying debris and taken to Gordon County Hospital. A nurse there said he was treated and released. <br> <br> About 26,500 customers in northwest Georgia lost power during the storm, including about 20,000 customers of North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation in Gordon County, where schools were closed Wednesday. <br> <br> The Georgia Emeregency Managenment Agency said only minor injuries were reported. <br> <br> Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine toured Gordon County Wednesday and estimated property damage at five million dollars. <br> <br> Oxendine said, ``Businesses are shut down everywhere. The commercial buildings seem to have been hit the worst. The majority of the residential buildings seem to have very moderate damage.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> A National Weather Service report released later Wednesday said a ``weak tornado&#39;&#39; was imbedded in the storm as it moved through Gordon County.

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