Middle Tennessee Tornado Center
Bart toured and discussed the tornado damage with General Gus Hargett of the Tennessee National
Guard shortly after the tornado strike.
• Update (04/24/09):
On Friday, April 24th Rutherford County and 7 adjacent counties, including Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Davidson, Marshall, Williamson and Wilson County, were declared federal disaster areas. These declarations allow individuals and businesses to apply for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for storm-related property damages. Click here to read the SBA Disaster Loans Fact Sheet, which explains who is eligible for disaster loans and provides answers to many other questions.
An SBA Disaster Outreach Center will open on April 28rd in Murfreesboro to issue loan applications, answer questions about the SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their applications. The Center will operate out of the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency, located at 1220 West College Street in Murfreesboro. It will be open on April 28th-May 1st from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 2nd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and, May 4th-May 7th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Outreach Center will officially close down on May 7th.
You can also contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Hotline if you have any questions about the federal disaster loans. The toll-free number is 1-800-659-2955.
• Background:
On Friday, April 10th, two tornadoes hit Rutherford County and a smaller one hit Sumner County. While the tornado that touched down in Sumner damaged 4 homes, the two that hit Rutherford County caused significant structural damage in Murfreesboro, in addition to killing two people and injuring 42.
Bart was on the ground on the ground immediately after the tornado struck and surveyed many of the affected areas. He has been working to ensure the clean-up process moves along quickly and those whose homes and/or properties were affected have the necessary information to begin the rebuilding process as quickly as possible.
• Contact Information:
• If your home is uninhabitable due to tornado damage, a Red Cross shelter is open at the New
Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro. For more information,
call (615) 895-7167.• If your home is uninhabitable due to tornado damage, a Red Cross shelter is open at the New
Vision Baptist Church located at 1750 N. Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro. For more information,
call (615) 895-7167.
• If you are seeking clean-up assistance or wanting to volunteer to clean-up, please call the
Rutherford County Emergency Operation Center at (615) 890-1934.
• If you need a place to store personal belongings from your home A+Storage in Murfreesboro,
located at 4205 Shelbyville Hwy., is offering free units to anyone affected by Friday's tornadoes. Call (615) 770-7000 for additional information.
• April 10th Tornadoes:
• For more a detailed explanation about the April 10th tornadoes or to view a map of the tornado's path, click here.
• To view aerial photos of the tornado's damage, click here.
• Future Tornadoes: Preparedness Center
• Given the recent tornadoes, it is important that all Tennesseans are properly prepared to respond
to a tornado strike in their community in the future. Click here for important information on how to prepare for a tornado strike, and details on what to do during and after a tornado.
• Related Press:
• Middle Tennessee Counties Get Tornado Disaster Declarations (April 24, 2009)
• Op-ed: Prepare for the Next Tornado in Middle TN (April 20, 2009)
• Gordon's Statement on Tornado Damage (April 10, 2009)
