Strong Winds Lead To Cleanup, Power Restoration Friday Afternoon

Winds caused the most damage Friday in a swath from northern Van Buren County up through Overton County, with the highest elevations seemingly impacted most.

A wind gust of 63mph recorded in Monterey, with a 56mph speed noted in Baxter during the worst part of the weather around lunch time. Power crews worked through the afternoon to restore power, especially around the area where Cumberland, Overton, Putnam and White counties meet.

As of late Friday, Volunteer Energy reported 477 customers in White County without electricity. At the height of the storm, all but five of the 1,459 customers were without power. 1,100 Cumberland County customers were without power. About 200 Putnam County VEC customers have no power with a handful of outages in Overton, Pickett and Fentress counties.

UCEMC reports at least 1,000 customers without power in southern Putnam County and White County, with areas of Phifer Mountain Road the hardest hit. The Turkey Creek Road area of Overton County also showing large numbers without power.

During the worst of the storms, UCEMC reported hundreds without power along Monterey Highway in Overton County as well as the Phifer Mountain area of White County.

Putnam County Emergency Management Director Brandon Smith said trees fell on houses on Farmington Drive and Cumber Lane. There were also several reports of trees on cars. Highway crews spent the afternoon removing branches from roadways.