A man was killed and two others were injured Monday when a tree crashed into their home near downtown Cartersville, authorities said.
Bartow County fire officials told Channel 2 Action News that the man was asleep when the tree fell onto the Fite Street residence about 1 a.m.
The county coroner identified the victim as 34-year-old William McConnell. He was one of eight Georgians killed as a system of powerful storms tore through the state overnight.
Authorities said the house was the worst of the damage in that area of Bartow County. The two injured victims were able to walk to the ambulance to get treatment, according to Channel 2.
Meanwhile, Bartow County Fire Department officials said they are working with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office to find out why tornado sirens were not activated during the severe weather.
“Both BCFD and Cartersville Fire Department have a written policy that outlines when the 911 Center is to activate the warning sirens for both systems,” the department said in a Facebook post. “As we have stated many times, the sirens are only designed for warning those outside of an approaching possible tornado to take shelter. They are not designed to warn those inside structures and often cannot be heard inside.”
— Staff writer Alexis Stevens contributed to this article.
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