A major wind event struck Wayne County last Tuesday, March 22, damaging homes and businesses across the county. Toward the end of a day that had already produced heavy rain and gusty winds, either straight-line winds or a near touchdown of a tornado caused fear and damage in the county. Thankfully, no one was reported as being injured during the wind event.
Sometime between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. on March 22, a windstorm that most people said “came up all of a sudden” caused damage to homes and businesses. Many roofs and sheds were damaged, and trees were blown down in many parts of the county. Highway Superintendent Chuck Moser reported downed trees and debris in the roadways on Herbert Gallian Drive, Old Town Branch, Simmons Branch, Waterfall Road, Hurricane Creek, Upper Green River, and Johnson Hollow Road, with other roads being covered in debris as well. Damage to homes, sheds, and carports was reported in the Sunny Acres area as well.
Beavers Tie & Lumber Company seemed to sustain the most severe damage in the storm. Mr. Jim Beavers said that a lumber storage building, a hay barn, and four outbuildings were destroyed, but his faithful and determined employees worked hard to get most everything cleaned up after several hours’ work. Mr. Beavers said that even though the wind was pretty rough that day, it in no way could compare to the F5 tornado that struck Wayne County on Thursday, April 16, 1998. That day changed many lives forever, killing three and causing more storm damage in the county than had ever been seen before. The path of that tornado came right through Beavers Tie & Lumber, destroying all the machinery and buildings at the business and scattering lumber for miles.
The wind event on Tuesday has not been classified as a tornado, but many believe that it was. WSMV Channel 4 in Nashville reported spotting markers on the radar in Wayne County that could be causing wind damage just before the highest winds hit. Wayne County EMA Director Robert Farris told The News that the National Weather Service is still doing surveys in several counties, including Wayne. He went on to say that several other counties sustained damage, including Lawrence County. “I drove up the Summertown Turnpike on Wednesday,” said Farris. “I saw tops twisted out of trees, and that is a good indicator that a tornado came through but didn’t necessarily touch down on the ground.”
With power out for several hours and trees covering roads, the county road crews and TVEC worked hard to restore power and clear roadways. These crews are greatly appreciated by everyone in the county for their dedication to the job.
