Thursday 28th March 2024
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Deja Vu All Over: Henry County Hit Again

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By Shannon McFarlin News Director

Paris, Tenn.–“It’s like deja vu all over again,” said Henry County Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Watkins this morning as he assessed the damage from the early morning storm that blew through the county and city of Paris, damaging businesses and residences, destroying one house trailer and displacing an elderly couple, destroying barns and outbuildings, toppling giant trees and causing at least one fire when lightning struck the old Country Club in Puryear.

In contrast to the EF-1 tornado that hit Henry County last week, this morning’s storm caused damage over a much wider area.

Watkins said he feels confident this morning’s storms were caused by straight-line winds that he estimated at between 60-80 mph. He said preliminary assessments are that an estimated 35 residential structures are damaged, but that number is likely to increase. “Our weather emergency escalated quickly and happened at the same time there was a tornado warning in Calloway County (Kentucky)”, Watkins said.

In the city of Paris, much of the damage was concentrated to the main intersection of Tyson and Veterans Avenues, with the windows at Victory Lane Quick Lube blown out, the sign at the Sonic Drive-In blown out, the Cash Express sign blown down, along with damage to the roof; roof damage at Knights Inn, damage to Servall, and road signs blown over.

Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway is out in the county this morning surveying damage, as he did after last week’s tornado.

Watkins and Ridgeway said there is significant damage out in the country on Claytontown Rd., Elkhorn Rd., Conyersville Road, Mt. Sinai Rd., Country Club Lane in Puryear, Wilson Road in Puryear, Old-Paris Murray Road.

Ridgeway said the roof is blown off of the Conyersville Methodist Church, a semi was blown over on Conyersville Rd., and lightning struck the old Puryear Country Club, causing a fire which was quickly extinguished. Ridgeway said there are three crews from the Henry County Highway Department working to open roadways.

Watkins said a tree on a mobile home in the McClain’s Trailer Park has displaced an elderly couple who have health problems. He said the Red Cross will be helping them.

Paris BPU Director Terry Wimberley said at the height of this morning’s storm, there were 8,500 customers out of power. As of 10 a.m., the number had decreased to 3,400 customers still out. He said BPU crews have been busy all morning and that crews from Jackson and Milan are helping.

Top photos: Cash Express damaged; Victory Lane Quick Lube windows blown out; Sonic sign blown out. Photos by Shannon McFarlin.

Conyersville Methodist Church by John Penn Ridgeway.

Semi blown over on Conyersville Rd. Photoby County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway.

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