March 3, 2012 report from TEMA (TN Emergency Management):Tennessee Leap Year Tornadoes
February 29-March 3, 2012
MIDDLE & EAST TENNESSEE – MULTIPLE COUNTIES
OVERALL SITUATION
Tennessee experienced two, significant waves of severe weather outbreaks on Friday, March 2, 2012. The first outbreak the morning of March 2, impacted East Tennessee primarily and after a two-hour lull, the second wave hit Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee was impacted a second time.
A total of 75 tornado warnings were issued between 9:25 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., CST, on March 2, 2012. Several counties reported tornado touchdowns.
No fatalities have been reported in Tennessee from the severe weather of March 2. There have been 33 people injured: Hamilton-21; Bradley-3 & McMinn-9. There are three previously reported fatalities (Cumberland – 2 and DeKalb –1) from the Feb. 29 tornadoes
Five shelters are open with one each in Hamilton, Bradley, Loudon, Cumberland and Cookeville, with no current occupants.
All requests for assistance and resources have been met and there are no unmet needs at this time.
18,650 customers are without power statewide, with the largest outages in Bradley, Dickson, Hamilton and McMinn.
The State Emergency Operations Center remains at Level 3 and the state of emergency continues due to severe weather across much of Tennessee.
Goals: Support local resource requests and efforts, ensure coordination between all levels of government, and continue to meet local government needs.
County Reports:
• Bledsoe – Possible tornado touchdown with minor damage to buildings.
• Bradley – Reports of up to 20 homes and businesses damaged, with three homes destroyed.
• Cheatham – Report of 50 homes and businesses with damage. Kingston Springs impacted significantly.
• Claiborne – Reports of three homes destroyed, three with major damage.
• Dickson – Possible multiple tornado touchdowns with damage to homes and buildings reported.
• Davidson – Building and property damage due to hail reported.
• Fentress – Damage to homes and several injuries reported.
• Franklin – Possible tornado touchdown with minor damages to buildings.
• Jackson – Damage to homes and several injuries reported.
• Hamilton – Reported 50 homes damaged and 21 injuries. A fuel spill reported at the Tennessee River marina. U.S. Coast Guard has closed a section of Tennessee River, near Harrison Bay, due to debris in the channel. EMA reported damage to a Fire Dept. Fire Boat and power outages due to power lines.
• Humphreys – Minor home damage South of Waverly, trees down and power out in some areas.
• McMinn – 30 homes destroyed or with major damage (15 homes and 15 trailers), many others with minor or affected damage.
• Marion – Island Cove Marina sustained significant damage with 30 to 50 boats overturned and a reported 1,000 gallons of petroleum spilled. EPA contacted and agent dispatched. EMA reports that the only reported home damage is one RV blown over.
• Monroe – Damage includes about 60 homes, eight businesses & 2 churches around Tellico Plains. Search and rescue conducted March 2 and will resume March 3. Hwy. 360 is closed due to debris.
• Montgomery – One mobile home had roof blown off. Several signal lights down.
• Roane - Report of a Tornado touch down in Kingston confirmed 2 homes roof blown off. Multiple power outages. Debris management and damage assessment underway.
• Putnam – Requested assistance with debris removal. Forestry providing chain saw crews.
