'Cherokee Was Very Fortunate'

Update 2:34 p.m.

Georgia Power spokeswoman Lynn Wallace said customers can expect to have power back between 8 and 10 p.m.

"It turns out ... there were a number of trees that fell on lines, so they (crews) have their work cut out for them up there. We actually have crews up there working. The customers that are able to receive power, we should have them back on between 8 and 10 tonight.

"Because there was so much damage—there are several customers that have had some damage to the service entrance of their home, the line that goes into their home—they'll have to get that repaired. They'll have to have an electrician come out and repair that (before we can restore power). They're not physically able to receive power."

Original Report Below

As officials assess damage from and officials with the National Weather Service prepare for a 2 p.m. press conference at the  in Canton, about 990 Georgia Power customers in Cherokee County remain powerless.

"Most of those are going to be in Ball Ground," Georgia Power spokeswoman Lynn Wallace said just before 1:30 p.m. today. "We've got just over 60 in Canton."

It's not clear when power will be restored or if there might be additional outages. Calls to Cobb EMC, which serves parts of Cherokee, have not been returned.

So victims protect themselves against scams as well as post-tornado related injuries, the and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency answered a few commonly asked questions for Patch.

Q: The tornado damaged my home. How can I protect myself from scammers?

A: "Residents affected by the storms that want to hire companies to assist in repairing damages should ask for businesses licenses and avoid using companies that chase storms," Cherokee sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker told Patch. "Using established local companies that are bonded would be the best choice."

Q: How do I file a claim?

A: "Unfortunately, unscrupulous contractors and scam artists often are a problem after a disaster," GEMA spokeswoman Lisa Janak Newman said. "Storm victims should always check with the Better Business Bureau before hiring a contractor." (For more information, open the PDF on this page.)

Q: What local resources are available to victims?

A: "In response to yesterday’s tornado, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management wants to advise affected victims of a program called Cherokee CARES," Baker said in a news release. "Cherokee Cares is a volunteer network of local organizations and individuals who assist with long term recovery for those with unmet needs. The program will make referrals to agencies that can best handle the needs of specific victims. Victims of yesterday’s tornado who need assistance are asked to call 678-493-4059. This number will be manned today, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Messages can be left after hours until midnight on Thursday.

Q: How did Cherokee escape the devastation that wreaked havoc on communities in Alabama, Missouri and Ringgold, GA, earlier this year?

A: "Cherokee County was very fortunate to have only during yesterday's storms," Baker told Patch. "Our early warning systems (sirens) warned residents of oncoming bad weather and residents heeded the warning. That, in addition to the fact that it was a holiday and many people were already at home, certainly had a positive effect on the lack of injuries. Although I don’t want to predict the size of the tornadoes, it doesn’t appear they were as large as the ones that devastated Alabama, Missouri, and Ringgold in recent months."

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