FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 24, 2022
Residents, special guests, and the Georgia Forestry Commission will be on hand Saturday, March 26 in Newnan to mark the first anniversary of tornadoes that tore through the city. More than $75 million in losses were recorded from the F-4 storm and 567 acres of tree canopy were destroyed. Since that devastating evening in 2021, hundreds of volunteer hours have been donated, along with GFC seedlings and container trees as the community works to recover.
“For many decades, Newnan has been known for its spectacular trees,” said Georgia House District 70 (Newnan) Representative Lynn Smith. “Much of it was swept away on that awful night a year ago, but I’m proud to say we’re moving forward. We are replanting and making progress, with a lot of help alongside us.”
“It is our privilege to be able to serve the Newnan community in this fashion,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Tim Lowrimore. “From the first fly-overs evaluating damage to tree canopy assessments, assistance with federal aid, and now, replanting, we’ve been dedicated to bringing Newnan the forestry expertise it needs to get through this.”
Shortly after the storm subsided, the Georgia Forestry Commission partnered on recovery efforts. Chainsaw crews were dispatched to clear main arteries for emergency vehicles and GFC helped coordinate debris clean-up priorities. The GFC’s Urban Forest Strike Team did extensive inspections of the damaged tree canopy and provided assessments critical to federal aid for recovery. The GFC also worked with city and county officials, the Newnan Tree Board, certified arborists, and volunteers from Plant Newnan during a series of special events to help reforest the city’s hardest-hit areas. The GFC donated more than 1,300 containerized trees and 400 seedlings to the replanting effort. In recognition of the storm’s first anniversary on March 26, GFC will join Plant Newnan, City of Newnan staff, and area residents for a tree giveaway event from 8-11 a.m. in the former retail lot at 37 Lagrange St, Newnan, GA 30263. It can be accessed from 1st Ave. at Long Place.
More than 15,000 large, mature trees were lost,” said Lowrimore. “Over the past year, we’ve worked to restore 10 percent of those trees. This anniversary marks a special new beginning.”
For more information about services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.