Tornado-pummeled Pickwick has $1.8 million damage

April 29– Wednesday afternoon’s tornado which struck Pickwick caused more than $1.8 million in damage, according to the Hardin County Emergency Management Agency.

Pickwick Electric Cooperative expenses for repairs to the local utility grid are estimated at $200,000.

Marilyn White, deputy EMA director for the county, said that power was expected to be restored to all but 10 homes by the end of the day. A total of 1,322 PEC customers were initially left without service when the storm struck at 5:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service has now classified the storm as an EF-2 tornado, with wind speeds of 111-135 mph, local EMA officials said.

The initial damage assessment shows 51 houses were damaged. Three had major damage, 12 sustained minor damage, and 36 were affected. Two mobile homes were destroyed.

Six businesses were damaged, including Old Tyme Hardware which was completely demolished.

Hardin County Fire Chief Melvin Martin said only two injuries were reported, neither life-threatening.

He said the twister traversed an approximately four-mile path, starting from a point just west and to the south of LTV Lane and traveling in a generally straight line across Tenn. 57-S and through Shiloh Falls to Blue Herron Point and Pickwick Lake.