Residents pick up pieces after EF-1 tornado damages Rutherford, TN

RUTHERFORD, Tenn. (KBSI) – A tornado swept through northwest Tennessee on Saturday, December 9.

An EF-1 tornado tore through the town. It hit from 11:32 a.m.-12:03 p.m., according to preliminary damage survey results from the National Weather Service.

The tornado had estimated peak winds of 110 miles per hour. It was 25.3 miles long and 600 yards wide.

Three people sustained minor injuries.

Community efforts to restore areas of a west Tennessee town are still ongoing after Saturday’s devastating storm.

Fox 23’s sabrina winters visited for the second time and spoke with the local fire chief who’s still looking for answers as the community looks to return to normalcy.

Some residents of Rutherford, Tenn. are still picking up the pieces after Saturday’s EF-1 tornado ripped through their town.

“The subdivision up here was hit hard,” said Rutherford Battalion Chief John Baker. “West of town was hit pretty bad. East of town there’s quite a bit of damage.”

Trees rest on houses and others cover rooftops.

Linemen work around the clock to restore electricity.

A thriving southern town, completely in despair s a community looks for a glimmer of relief.

“Debris started going past the windows, loud noise and we didn’t have anything left, much, except where I was standing,” said Baker.

John Baker is the battalion chief of Station #9 and describes the aftermath of what is left after high winds struck the town on December 9.

“I was at the station readying the equipment for bad weather, looked out the back door, saw swirling clouds just west of us. Ran into the office to use the radio to let our dispatch know what was happening,” said Baker.

Baker says that’s when the building shook and he realized, for the 2nd time in 17 years, a tornado hit the station.

“We were out making calls when it disappeared in ’06. This time, I was he only one in the building when hit,” he said.

Baker says the station and at least two trucks are demolished, yet his team is still able to operate and make calls thanks to other stations across Gibson County.

“Trying to determine what we can salvage and what our next step is and possibly try and rebuild the station,” he said.

Although the storm demolished his building, Baker says all the damage won’t stop him from noticing and assisting others.