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SituationAwareness: |
Entered June 3 from a Response Note submitted May 16.
Overview of Incident: Between April 25 and 28, 2011, multiple tornadoes struck several counties in Tennessee. Most notable were two EF-4 tornadoes that targeted the southeast Tennessee counties of Hamilton, Bradley, Rhea and Bledsoe. In addition, there were multiple reports of EF 2 and 3 tornadoes in numerous counties throughout the state. Along with the storm front that triggered these tornadoes, there were numerous reports of large hail, straight line winds and flash flooding. In all, there were 40 tornadoes reported during this 3 day period. 10 East TN counties received a disaster declaration due as a result of the storms. |
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UniResponseEfforts: |
Response by County:
Bledsoe County –Bledsoe County Extension Agent J C Rains and County Extension Director Matt McCuiston responded to a request by Bledsoe County EMA director to lead Disaster Animal Response Team activities in the impacted area of the county. The tornado, which struck a rural farming community in the county, required assistance with livestock and temporary fencing. Rains and McCuiston directed the placement of livestock at temporary holding sites and the repair of fencing to assist local cattle producers. The Bledsoe County Agents spent over 20 hours organizing local volunteers and DART members to assist local cattle producers in the DART response.
Bradley County – Meigs County Extension Director responded to a request from Bradley County EMA to lead the local DART response in Bradley County for livestock and horses impacted by the tornado. Mitchell led the evacuation, removal and temporary housing for horses and cattle that were on farms that received catastrophic damage losing barns, holding facilities and fencing. Mitchell organized local DART members and volunteers and spent over 60 hours directing the response in Bradley County.
McMinn County – The entire county saw damage mainly due to downed or damaged trees due to high winds causing some property damage and widespread power outages. Most power was restored within 24-48 hours. EF4 did touch down in Claxton community causing total distruction of several mobile homes and mainly extreme roof damage to several homes and barns and many downed and damaged trees in the Claxton area. No fatalities or serious injury reported.
Johnson County - Tornadoes hit Johnson County at approx. 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, 2011. The path of the tornado covered a 12 mile section of the county approx. 250 yards wide. Approx. 200 homes were either damaged or destroyed, 2 deaths reported and several injuries. Barns, fencing and timber were the main losses in the agricultural community with a few livestock losses.
Greene County – Milton Orr, County Director
Three separate tornadoes. On the ground for approximately 30 miles estimated one mile wide.
Hay crops contaminated with glass and building materials, mostly unusable. estimated 80% of the affected area.
Pastures littered with glass and building residue mostly unusable. Estimated 90% of the affected area.
Fences over the affected area mosltly incapable of restraining livestock on most acreage.
Barns over 50% of the affected area totally destroyed.
Damaged barns over the remaining 50% of the area.
40% of the homes in the affected area destroyed.
60% of the homes in the affected area damaged
Response: Storm damage assessment
Request for assistance from USDA. Participating in Assessment and requests.
Providing assistance to Homeland security when requested.
Relief efforts and special programs for 4-H'ers and their families.
Providing technical assistance to producers on next steps in regards to livestock.
Crockett County - Crockett County was hit by several severe thunderstorms and possible tornado during the recent period of continuous severe weather conditions. Numerous large trees were felled during the storms. Damage to residences and outbuildings was apparent throughout the county. Many buildings had trees to fall on them or experienced roof damage due to the high winds experienced. Roadways were closed due to trees falling across them. Flooding of roadways and property occured due to the heavy rainfall that accompanied the storms and also due to debris, including downed trees, clogging ditches and other waterways thereby impeding water flow.
Washington County – Washington County experienced tornado, hail and straight line wind damage on two occasions in early April and late April. Damage occured to farm structures, crops, homes, businesses and vehicles including loss of life. Main areas affected were the communities of South Central, Ducktown, Harmony, Sulfur Springs, Headtown, Gray, Lamar, Jonesborough and Johnson City. Effect on agriculture is crop damage, delayed planting, destruction of stored feeds, damage to livestock and livestock housing and other farm structures.
Montgomery County - Flooding provided damage to approxiamtely 1000 acre of cropland during April and May. Trees were downed over widespread parts of the County. Power outages were observed on 2-3 different occasions.
West TN Region (Forestry) – Submitted by David Mercker, UT Extension Forester
- Assisted two landowners in locating a consulting forester to salvage downed timber
- Immediately following the damage I sent a web link and two articles out to our county offices that addressed timber casualty loss and salvage
- Sent the same information to the Alabama Forest Owner’s Association for posting on their web site
- Notified foresters and landowners in the area of a webinar on the same subject hosted by NC State
- Inspected a few home sites that experienced damage to yard trees and gave recommendations
Hamilton County – Hamilton County EMA requested Extension Specialist Ray Burden to assist in leading the DART response to the tornado damage in east Hamilton County. Burden worked with the local DART members to provided animal emergency response needs for livestock, equine and household pets. Team members went site to site surveying residents to determine what, if any, animal needs that might have. DART members provided feed, shelter and movement of animals for numerous residents. In several incidents, DART veterinary volunteers, provided animal health care needs. Burden spent 32 hours assisting in the DART response. Over 100,000 people without electricity on day 1. It took 3-7 days to fully restore power. The Apison community was closed to the public for a number of days.
Knox County - Knox County experienced two severe thunderstorm events on April 25 and April 28. The April 25 event downed thousands of trees, resulted in power lines being brought down and road closures along the path of the storm. An EF1 tornado was confirmed through south Knoxville. The April 27 event was a series of severe thunderstorms throughout the region that spawned numerous tornados and brought high winds and large hail. The greatest insurance costs from this storm in Knox County is expected to be hail damage to homes and vehicles.
NOTE: FLOOD DISASTER DESIGNATED COUNTIES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN A SEPARATE SITUATION REPORT. |