WJBF News Channel 6 has received reports of large trees being downed in Edgefield County. We have also received reports of large hail in Johnston, South Carolina. We are awaiting word on if there is any damage in Saluda County. Let us know if you see or receive storm damage. Strong weather will continue to move through the CSRA Friday night, and should clear up by Saturday morning.

Cleanup continues in storm-ravaged Hancock County, after a violent tornado touched down in the small community, Wednesday. One person was killed and several others injured. Count on WJBF News Channel 6’s Renita Crawford for the latest in this developing story.

Friday, Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in four counties affected by severe weather that passed through Georgia on Wednesday evening. The counties are Hancock, Jasper, Thomas and Warren. The counties requested help from the state after determining that the removal of storm debris exceeded local capabilities.

Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine estimates that the storms this week did an estimated $10 million damage after taking a helicopter tour of Coweta, Spalding and Fayette counties. Oxendine stressed that it was an extremely early estimate and it didn’t cover all the areas of the state struck by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on Wednesday.

Clean up efforts are underway after a tornado rips through the Peach State. One person is dead in Hancock County. Several homes and businesses were destroyed in Wilkes County. Count on our Fraendy Clervaud, he has the story.

Emergency managers are reporting one person killed in east-central Georgia and at least 7 injured after thunderstorms swept the state with tornados, hail and lightening.  The violent weather swept through the state Wednesday night.  A spokesman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency says the one fatality was reported in Hancock County and another three people were injured there.

A new ranking of Georgia counties according to economic health puts Hancock County among the poorest in the state and Oconee County as the richest.