A tornado hit down on Lake Howard Road," said Walker County Emergency Services Director David Ashburn. "It came from over the top of Taylor's Ridge from the Villanow area."
"Lt. (Kenny) Carreathers from LaFayette Police Department witnessed that," Ashburn said. "He said it looked like it broke apart into three different funnels. Shortly after that, we had damage to uprooted trees in the Lake Howard area. We're en route and on the scene trying to assess the damage.
"We're just trying to see where we are right now," he said.
An operator at the emergency 911 center said the majority of callers are reporting high water and trees felled by the storm's high winds.
Officials said a tornado may have touched down near the 2700 block of Lake Howard Road.
Ashburn said members of all departments, including the Walker Sheriff's Department, Walker Fire and Rescue and the Roads Department were headed toward the damaged region.
"We've crews out there to deal with downed trees," Ashburn said.
"It's flooding everywhere, and now it looks like we have severe wind in certain areas. I don't look for it to change," he said.
"We evacuated some people (near the intersection of Ga. 341 and Ga. 136) earlier today because of flooding over there. We've been blocking roads, putting out high water signs and cutting trees everywhere all day."
Walker County schools stayed in close contact with the Georgia State Patrol Post 41 and would continue to monitor the weather closely through lunchtime, according to Maggie Stewart with the Walker County school system. System administrators will decide at 1 p.m. whether to keep schools open the rest of the day.
Stewart said students are safer in the schools during dangerous weather than they would be on buses or in cars on their way homes.
Some schools reported power outages, but crews worked to restore power as quickly as possible. Schools were able to provide lunch for students despite the weather.
Lookout Mountain officials reported at high water, but no reports of damage at noon.
Residents of Battlewood Apartments in Fort Oglethorpe were evacuated to the city's Constitution Hall after flooding from rising waters forced Georgia Power Co. to cut electricity to the complex.
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a flash flood warning until 2:15 p.m. for Catoosa, Dade, Chattooga, Whitfield and Walker counties in Northwest Georgia.
Residents in flood prone areas are asked to seek higher ground.
Heavy and persistent showers and thunderstorms dropped up to five inches of rain along portions of the South Chickamauga Creek basin in Catoosa and Walker.
The National Weather Service reports South Chickamauga Creek is expected to crest at 18.5 feet by 8 a.m. Wednesday - six inches above flood stage.
Three to five more inches of rain is expected to fall this afternoon and tonight, continuing well into the morning. If more heavy rain comes overnight tonight, the creek may crest higher than forecast.
Other locations in the flood warning area include Chattanooga Valley, Chickamauga, Fairview, Fort Oglethorpe, Indian Springs subdivision, Lakeview, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, Rossville, Summerville, Trion and Trenton.
Numerous roads are already flooded with water flowing across them. In Chickamauga and Fort Oglethorpe, some evacuations are ongoing near Chickamauga Creek and other flood prone areas, including Battlewood Apartments.
Heavy and persistent showers and thunderstorms dropped up to five inches of rain along portions of the South Chickamauga Creek basin in Catoosa and Walker. The National Weather Service reports South Chickamauga Creek is expected to crest at 18.5 feet by 8 a.m. Wednesday - six inches above flood stage.
Three to five more inches of rain is expected to fall this afternoon and tonight, continuing well into the morning. If more heavy rain comes overnight tonight, the creek may crest higher than forecast.
During flash flooding, water levels in area streams and rivers can rapidly increase, transforming them into raging currents. Never attempt to cross flood waters by vehicle or foot and move to higher ground.
Report serious flooding to the National Weather Service by calling (770) 486-1133 at extension 204
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