page_title: Tornado outbreak of January 21–23, 2017
section_title: Adel, Georgia
hierarchical_section_title: Tornado outbreak of January 21–23, 2017 / Confirmed tornadoes / Adel, Georgia
caption_attribution_description: English: EF3-rated damage to a double-wide mobile home in Berrien County, Georgia, from a tornado on January 22, 2017
context_page_description: The tornado outbreak of January 21–23, 2017 was a prolific and deadly winter tornado outbreak that occurred across the Southeast United States. Lasting just under two days, the outbreak produced a total of 81 tornadoes, cementing its status as the second-largest January tornado outbreak and the third-largest winter tornado outbreak since 1950. Furthermore, it was the largest outbreak on record in Georgia with 42 tornadoes confirmed in the state. The most significant tornadoes were three EF3s that heavily damaged or destroyed portions of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Albany and Adel, Georgia. A total of 20 people were killed by tornadoes—mainly during the pre-dawn hours of the outbreak—making it the second-deadliest outbreak in January since 1950, behind the 1969 Hazlehurst, Mississippi tornado outbreak that killed 32 people. In the aftermath of the outbreak, relief organizations assisted in clean-up and aid distribution. Total economic losses from the event reached at least $1.3 billion.
  Non-tornadic impacts were also felt along the East Coast of the United States. Straight-line winds in Lake City, Florida killed one person when a tree fell on their home.
context_section_description: Around 3:29 a.m. EST (08:29 UTC) on January 22, what was to become a deadly and destructive EF3 tornado first touched down as an EF1 along Georgia State Route 122 to the west-southwest of Barney in Brooks County, Georgia. Tracking east-northeast, the tornado snapped or uprooted multiple trees and shifted a barn off of its foundation before it quickly intensified to EF3 strength. A business in this area had two of its concrete exterior walls blown out. A strapped-down mobile home was tossed about 100 ft (30 m) and destroyed on impact, killing two occupants. A third of the second story of a well-built brick house was ripped off, and a wood-framed home was shifted about 12 ft (3.7 m) off its foundation. Debarking of trees occurred in this area as well. As the tornado passed just north of Barney, it abruptly turned northeast before entering Cook County.
  Maintaining EF3 intensity, the tornado passed just south of Adel and struck the Sunshine Acres mobile home park, causing tremendous damage. Of the park's roughly 100 homes, 45 were destroyed—35 of which were obliterated—with debris swept into piles along the south end of the development. Seven fatalities took place in Sunshine Acres. A survivor reported seeing a girl thrown into a ditch and a mother and son crushed underneath their home when it was thrown on top of them. A brick home had most of its second floor removed and two first floor exterior walls collapsed. Another home built of concrete blocks was destroyed, and a nearby farm had several concrete anchors for a large metal structure ripped from the ground. After entering Berrien County, EF3 damage continued as another wood-framed home lost most of its second floor, trees sustained debarking, a well-strapped-down mobile home was tossed into nearby trees, and most of the roof to a brick home was removed. An add-on to the brick home was crushed by a very large tree, killing two occupants. The tornado eventually dissipated around 3:58 a.m. EST (08:58 UTC) roughly 4 mi (6.4 km) southeast of Nashville after causing some EF2 damage near U.S. Route 129.
  Overall, the tornado killed 11 people along a 24.88 mi (40.04 km) track lasting 29 minutes. Following the tornado, Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked off access to the community, eventually allowing residents to return on January 24.
caption: A double-wide mobile home destroyed by the tornado in southwestern Berrien County.
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