The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:41 PM
First Tornado Of 2018 In Tennessee On Saturday Leaves Monroe County Still Cleaning Up On Tuesday
Eric Swanson said the tornado caught him by surprise at his home in Coker Creek. Swanson said he could not hear the sirens in nearby Tellico Plains.
"I was just in awe. I didn't know there was a tornado watch out. I hadn't been listening to the weather," Swanson said.
The tornado tore off shingles from his roof and destroyed his work shed. The powerful winds also uprooted several trees that blocked his driveway.
Tellico Plains Police said officials decided to activate their tornado sirens Saturday night as well as those in Madisonville.
"We had actually just tested our tornado sirens the week before, we had just tested to make sure they were working," said Lt. Jason Crowder.
Crowder said there are two sirens in Tellico Plains and more throughout Monroe County. Crowder said the entire county is prepared should a larger tornado hit.
"It's a good drill, it gives us firsthand experience on something we may have to deal with and hope we don't have to deal with in the upcoming weather," Crowder said.
The National Weather Service Survey near Highway 68 between Tellico Plains and Coker Creek in Monroe County confirmed that a tornado touched down Saturday night at around 7:49 p.m.
According to the NWS, damage indicators showed winds of around 85 miles per hour, which would make the storm a "high-end EF-0 tornado."
The tornado developed as it shifted east off of a ridge and down into the Hooper Branch Creek valley along Pond Ridge Road, NWS reports. Multiple trees were uprooted, fences damaged, and a barn was destroyed.
The tornado reportedly crossed Highway 68 and uprooted more trees and damaged roofs in its path. Several windows were smashed and a double wide was also flipped on its foundation.
