From Henry County EMA Director Ron Watkins:
Paris, Tenn.–It was a long night for Henry County’s first responders, Paris Energy Authority Utility
Workers, and the Henry County Highway Department dealing with the aftermath of severe thunderstorms that included tornado warnings, flash flooding, and severe thunderstorms.
Friday evening crews worked tirelessly through the night to rescue residents across the county, clear debris, restore power and utilities. At 10:59 pm Henry County was placed under a Tornado Warning. Damaging straight-line
winds, including a tornado, impacted the county in several areas including Cottage Grove,
Como, Puryear, Paris, Buchanan, and Paris Landing.
As lines of severe thunderstorms continued to
move through the county, another Tornado Warning was issued at 11:37PM. Emergency Management
estimates up to 30-35 homes may have been destroyed or sustained major damage. Many barns and out
buildings were destroyed as well. The City of Paris seemed to fare better with most of the storm damage
occurring in the Northern parts of Henry County.
Responders were delayed in reaching some damaged areas because of the large number of trees which
had to be cut. Around 30 roads had several trees, utility poles, and power lines blocking roadways.
Henry County AMR EMS transported two patients that were injured in a mobile home that was rolled
off its foundation. Power outages affected more than 3800 customers at its peak. A TVA transmission
tower and lines were heavily damaged on Hwy 69 N. Several homes had roofs blown off or trees on
their homes due to damaging winds. The National Weather Service will be asked to assess damage to
determine the strength of the Tornado occurred.
Roads will continue to remain hazardous in some areas of the county due to debris on and along the
roadways. Motorist are urged to use caution for the next several days.
Henry County Sheriffs Deputies had to walk in on foot to several areas to check on residents because of
blocked roads. County Fire/Rescue Depts assisted in clearing debris and checking on residents included
Cottage Grove Fire Dept, Paris Landing Fire Dept, Oakland Fire Dept and Paris-Henry County Rescue
Squad.
From Henry County Sheriff Josh Frey:
“Henry County has wide spread damage across the northern part of the from Cottage Grove to the Cypress Rd area. There are numerous power lines and poles across the roadways along with many trees. Multiple structures have received damaged with many being a total loss. At this time two injuries have been reported. The Henry County Sheriff Deputies are going door to door in hardest hit areas due to roads being impassable. Highway 69 North will remain closed for an extended period of time due to a TVA power tower across the highway. This is in the area of Pled Wade Rd.”
Henry County’s Text Alert System was affected when warnings were issued and broadband connections
were disrupted around the same time due to the storms. Ron Watkins, County Emergency Management
Director stated, “ The Text Alert System apparently held some alerts in que and then sent them some
time later after warnings had expired. We will work with our vendor to prevent this from happening
again.”
The damaging storms were not isolated to Henry County. Severe weather was tracked throughout Western Tennesee and Kentucky and caused widespread damage in surrounding counties. Newbern in Dyer
County, Samburg in Obion County, Dresden in Weakley County and Mayfield in Graves County KY
sustained major damage to property. Como/Ore Springs Fire Department provided mutual aid to Dresden to assist with search and rescue operations.
Henry County Emergency Management will conduct damage assessment Saturday morning to gather
information for a report to Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and Governor Lee. If you or your
family has been displaced by Friday’s storm and need assistance, please contact the Emergency Management Office for Red Cross assistance at (731) 644-2678 or (731) 336-3330.
Photo: Cypress area damage. Photo by Heather Nicole Caskey.