Storm damages property, blocks roads, threatens boaters

May 04, 2020 at 02:04 pm by Lisa Marchesoni

Storm damage from May 3, 2020

No one suffered injuries when strong storms caused trees to topple over on houses, cars and roads and threatened boaters Sunday afternoon throughout Rutherford County, a sheriff’s supervisor said.

Deputies responded to 95 calls during the two hours after the storm from the Williamson County line near Eagleville to Old Nashville Highway near Smyrna, said Lt. Will Holton.

“Boaters had trouble getting out the water because of the wind,” Holton said.

Emergency Medical Services paramedics rescued the boaters. 

Trees damaged several houses and cars throughout the county and displaced trampolines and playsets.

“The main problems were power lines and trees blocking the roadways,” Holton said. “Deputy Sarah Blair used her own chain saw and cleared roads. Some citizens assisted and we appreciate that.”

Neighbors and drivers helped remove trees blocking roads along with the Rutherford County Fire and Rescue and the Rutherford County Highway Department. Middle Tennessee Electric employees cleared power lines from endangering people.

“It takes everybody to get everything back going again,” Holton said.

Third shift patrol deputies were called in early to handle the volume of calls that were prioritized with life-threatening and dangerous calls like the threat of injuries or live power lines.

“Know we are concerned about other calls, and we want to answer those,” Holton said. “We try to get there as soon as we can.”

He recommended people who sustain property damage such as a tree damaging a home to call the insurance company for help.

Chief Deputy Keith Lowery said property damage during a storm does not require a police report.

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