TEMA FLASH REPORT #5 Tennessee Severe Weather - Dec. 10 & 11,

Tuesday, December 14, 2021 | 04:14pm

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Federal emergency declaration granted for nine Tennessee counties.
  • Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issues Executive Order #94 to provide operational flexibilities to affected counties in Northwest and Middle Tennessee from the severe weather and tornadoes.
  • Tennessee has four storm-related fatalities: two fatalities in Lake County; one fatality in Obion County; and one fatality in Shelby County.
  • National Weather Service confirms 11 tornado touchdowns so far in Tennessee.

 

CURRENT SITUATION

The federal government granted Gov. Lee’s request last night for an emergency declaration for nine Tennessee counties: Cheatham, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Obion, Stewart, and Weakley.

The declaration makes the counties eligible for federal funding reimbursement for emergency measures taken in response to the disaster.

In its response to Gov. Lee’s granting the declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated additional designations for assistance may be made available on further evaluation.

Gov. Lee also requested FEMA assistance for debris removal in the declared counties and said the state would seek a Major Disaster Declaration for qualifying jurisdictions, after local officials are able to complete a thorough assessment of storm damage.

DONATIONS

Financial donations are the best way to aid those in need and in response to a crisis, and Monetary donations also help disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly the supplies needed.

Charity Navigator lists many non-profit organizations supporting the tornado relief efforts in Tennessee and other states impacted over the weekend.

Please consider making a financial contribution to one of these organizations, or an organization of your choice, instead of donating home goods or sending purchased supplies yourself directly to the disaster area.

TORNADO SURVEYS

NWS survey teams have confirmed 11 tornado touchdowns in Tennessee during the weekend storms:

  • EF-0 – Hickman County, 85 mph winds
  • EF-0 – Carthage (Smith County), 85 mph winds
  • EF-0 – Bethpage (Sumner County), 85 mph winds
  • EF-1 – Burns (Dickson County), 110 mph winds
  • EF-1 – Clay County, 105 mph winds
  • EF-1 – Humphreys County with 100 mph winds
  • EF-1 – Old Hickory (Davidson County) to Hendersonville (Sumner County), 95 mph winds
  • EF-1 – Percy Priest Lake (Davidson County) to Mt. Juliet (Wilson County),105 mph winds
  • EF-2 – Dickson County, 135 mph winds
  • EF-2 – Kingston Springs (Cheatham County), 125 mph winds
  • EF-2 – Stewart County, 125 mph winds

UTILITIES

The Kenton Water Department and the Samburg Utility District have lifted their boil water advisories for customers in Gibson and Obion counties. Boil water advisories remain in place for:

  • Dresden Water Department customers in Weakley County;
  • North Utility District customers in Benton and Decatur counties; and,
  • Perryville Utility District customers in Decatur County

Power outages as of 4 p.m., Central, Monday were 12,500 statewide with 9,000 outages in Decatur, 200 in Shelby, 800 in Obion, 400 in Davidson, 700 in Lake, and 200 in Sumner. The Tennessee Valley Authority is estimating it will take crews several more days to repair a transmission line for Decatur County to restore power.

OPEN SHELTERS

  • Obion County - Reelfoot Youth Camp, 4305 Kendall Road, Hornbreak, TN
  • Gibson County - First Baptist Church, 204 S. Poplar St., Kenton, TN
  • Sumner County - Hendersonville Church of Christ, 107 Rockland Road
  • Weakley County – Dresden Adult Basic Education Center, 8250 TN-22

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