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Loose barge hits house below Pickwick Dam, Tennessee River bridge at Savannah endangered

A house on the Tennessee River below Pickwick Dam after it was hit by a barge.

UPDATE, 8:30 p.m. — The Hardin County Fire Department says all the barges are now secured.
INITIAL STORY —Officials with TVA and the Hardin County Fire Department say multiple barges have broken loose from a tug and are headed down the Tennessee River toward the U.S. 64 bridge at Savannah.
A house on Arnold Lane about a mile downstream of Pickwick Dam was hit by one of the stray barges Thursday afternoon and heavily damaged, according to county Fire Chief Melvin Martin.
It appears one or more tugs is involved in the effort to corral the loose barges, which according to the fire chief initially numbered at a dozen or more, he said.
The loose barges are now north of Shiloh National Military Park. Authorities caution that if any pillar of the bridge crossing the river at Savannah is struck by a barge, the bridge must be closed for a safety inspection.

8 Comments

  1. Martha Hieronymus on March 27, 2020 at 6:38 am

    Thank you for bringing us current news so late. Please keep us updated.

  2. Beth Bilyeu on March 27, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    What company did the barges belong to? Is there a number or person I can call about damages? One of the lose barges took out my steps.

    • Karen Broadway on March 27, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      The company was TVT out of Paducah. Tennessee Valley Towing

  3. Peggy on March 28, 2020 at 12:02 am

    The boats that push the barges or TOWBOATS, tug is what used to help move barges when they are building a tow.. geesh, #towboaterwife #getitright

  4. Michael hardin on March 29, 2020 at 6:31 pm

    Boo hoo. Dont live in a flood zone.us locals dont like a bunch of trash living on our rivers and creeks we hope it all gets washed away.it would clear out all old fishing holes and camping spots and get rid of all those darned tourist?i live in highest spot around cause im smart.if dam breaks well have all kinds of party spots oooh yeahhh?….noahs flood would barely reach me?.?..just kidding

  5. Henry Mobley on March 29, 2020 at 11:11 pm

    I, too, would like to know the barge company as my steps have major damage.

    • Michael hardin on March 30, 2020 at 2:23 pm

      Ill arrowhead hunt in front of your house as soon as water goes down ,,,see you then😎

      • Bessemer.Eleanor on May 19, 2020 at 10:25 pm

        Success is to simplify complex problems and then do it.

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