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Those who lived in or near the path of the April 9, 1998 tornado that crossed Dunwoody just after midnight remember well the sight of snapped trees in the days following. There were many fallen trees, but the sight of the snapped pine trees made a indelible impression.
The tornado went right through the campus of what was then DeKalb College (now part of Georgia State University) at the intersection of Womack and Tilly Mill Roads. About eighty percent of the trees on the campus were either snapped at a height of around eight feet or uprooted completely.
Travis Weatherly, director of plant operations, seeing the damage for the first time the following morning, observed, “There are no words to describe the destruction.” There were fallen trees everywhere, broken windows, roof damage, and water inside buildings.
The high winds and falling trees caused extensive roof damage at the college. The Administration Building and one classroom building had roofs that were partially collapsed. The Library and two other classroom buildings also had roof damage.
Judy Nichols was working at the campus at the time and recalls the drive from I-285 to the campus took her about an hour, and then she was turned away by DeKalb Police once she got close. “I remember the incredible devastation with trees down everywhere, and the A-building with its roof half gone.” Once employees were able to get on campus, they assessed the damage and started removal of debris.
A few cars were on campus as the tornado came through, some untouched and others damaged or even hidden by fallen trees.
Judy also remembers that Polly from Food Services cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on an outdoor grill behind the B building to feed the employees and other volunteers who came to help. Operations people from West Georgia and Georgia State Universities came to DeKalb College to help with the clean-up.
According to an April 11, 1998 Atlanta Constitution article, “DeKalb’s North Campus set to reopen Tuesday,” classes at the college would resume on April 14, five days after the tornado damage occurred. Classes could not be held before that date due to extensive damage, loss of power and water, and the trees and debris that needed to be cleared from campus roads and parking lots.
“Most of the trees on the heavily wooded campus were ripped from the ground, and security vehicles were thrown about,” observed DeKalb College Executive Vice President Rob Watts. He also noted how fortunate it was that the tornado did not come through during the day when the campus would have been full of people.
Employees and volunteers came together to begin the process of bringing the campus back to life. Some of the trees later planted on campus came from the Replant the Dunwoody Forest campaign. Over 25,000 trees were planted around Dunwoody because of Replant the Dunwoody Forest.