ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency as violent storms that likely included tornadoes moved through North Georgia.

95.5 WSB Meteorologist Christina Edwards tracked the storms as they started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

In a tweet, Kemp said, “Throughout this evening, Marty’s and my thoughts will return to those impacted by today’s severe storms and tornadoes.”

The Griffin area and parts of Troup County appear to be some of the hardest hit areas from the storms as they moved through North Georgia Thursday afternoon.

Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security have also opened its Emergency Operations Center because of the storms.

“We’re hearing widespread damage from areas where the storms have passed through and also from your coverage, we’ve had confirmed tornadoes. And so, we have field coordinators and staff in route to those areas,” said Mike Smith, chief of staff for Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Smith said GEMA is staying in close contact with the Governor’s Office and keeping them updated with everything that is going on so they can get the right resources to the areas of the state that need them the most.

>>PHOTOS:

WSB Radio listener photos of storm damage at Griffin Walmart and Dollar Tree locations.

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