Oak Ridge Today

Power still out in some areas; trees, utility lines remain down

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Alhambra Road Power Outage July 8 2016

Utility lines were down after a large part of a tree fell on Alhambra Road in east Oak Ridge on Friday, July 8, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 a.m.

Power remained out in parts of Oak Ridge on Friday night after a severe storm blew through Friday evening, and the city said electricity might not be restored in some areas until Saturday.

In a brief statement Friday night, the city said it is still experiencing power outages in at least 17 known areas across town.

“Additional contract crews have been called in to try to get power in major areas up tonight,” the statement said. “Public Works crews are also out clearing downed trees and brush. Areas around Dana and Michigan have been hit especially hard with downed poles and lines in some places. Power in these areas may not be restored until tomorrow.”

The city urged residents to use extreme caution and avoid these areas. [Read more…]

Saturday storms knock down trees, damage property

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

144 North Slope Lane

A house on North Slope Lane near Hidden Hills Drive received the most damage, authorities said. Hidden Hills Drive is off Hidden Valley Road, which runs between State Route 61 and Laurel Road northeast of Oak Ridge.

 

The storms that blew through on Saturday brought high winds and heavy rain to parts of East Tennessee. There were some trees and power lines down in Anderson County.

“The Claxton area, especially around West Wolf Valley Road, and near Laurel Road between Clinton and Oak Ridge were the hardest hit,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Saturday evening.

He said there was minor damage reported from trees or limbs on houses. One house on North Slope Lane near Hidden Valley Road received the most damage, Lucas said.

There were no reported injuries.

Most trees and power lines across roads were cleared by Saturday evening, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge joins statewide effort to plant 50,000 trees

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Tree Day Group

The City of Oak Ridge participated in the 50K Tree Day on Saturday, March 14, a statewide planting throughout Tennessee with the goal of planting 50,000 trees in one hour. (Submitted photo)

 

The City of Oak Ridge participated in the 50K Tree Day on Saturday, March 14, a statewide planting throughout Tennessee with the goal of planting 50,000 trees in one hour.

With the help of 61 volunteers, including students from Oak Ridge High School, members of Keep Anderson County Beautiful, and other community supporters, volunteers were able to plant about 400 trees at the disc golf course on Tuskegee Drive. The variety of Tennessee native trees planted included elderberry, silky dogwood, staghorn sumac, shumard oak, and ninebark.

Storm damages buildings, knocks down trees, knocks out power

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Passtime Garage Storm Damage

Passtime Garage on South Main Street in Clinton was damaged by a fast-moving storm and severe winds early Tuesday evening. (Photo courtesy WYSH Radio/WGAP Radio)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:15 a.m. June 11.

There are reports of trees and power lines down throughout Anderson County, and some roads are still blocked after a fast-moving storm ripped through East Tennessee, authorities said early Tuesday evening.

There have been reports of trees that have fallen on homes, but so far no injuries have been reported.

Tractor Trailer Blown Over near Lake City

A tractor-trailer was reported to have been blown over on Lake City Highway. (Photo courtesy WYSH Radio/WGAP Radio)

The short, fierce storm whipped through Oak Ridge and Anderson County with severe winds and driving rain at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. It left a path of debris: scattered branches and limbs, broken trees, fallen power lines, and damaged buildings and homes. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said there was a semi truck and trailer that apparently was blown over by high winds on Lake City Highway at Old Lake City Highway.

“It has now been removed and the roadway is open,” the Sheriff’s Department said early Tuesday night. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

At about 8:30 p.m., the Clinton Utilities Board reported that 6,173 customers had been affected by the storm, and 4,068 were still without power. [Read more…]

Storm knocked trees onto homes, woman reports possible lightning strike

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tree on Delaware Avenue Home

A tree fell on a vacant Delaware Avenue home during a severe Monday night storm. (Photo by Brad Jones)

A strong storm that blew through Oak Ridge on Monday knocked two trees down onto homes. One fell onto a firefighter’s house and caused several thousand dollars worth of damage, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said.

Firefighters also responded to a call from a woman who called 911 and said she thought she had been struck by lightning during the 7 p.m. storm.

“Upon arrival, the fire department found her in the living room of her home complaining of chest pain,” Kerley said. “She stated she was standing looking out the window when lighting hit in front of her, and she began experiencing chest pain. She was transported to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation.” [Read more…]

Winds knock down gazebo, snap trees at Rarity Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rarity Ridge Gazebo

A community gazebo at Rarity Ridge collapsed during a brief storm in Oak Ridge on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Bob Wolf)

A community gazebo collapsed and trees snapped at Rarity Ridge during a brief Wednesday afternoon storm, a resident said.

The wind damage, which occurred between about 4:15 and 4:30 p.m., appeared to be in a very localized area inside the residential development in west Oak Ridge, resident Bob Wolf said.

Soffits had blown off the front and rear porches of one home, and shingles were missing. Another house had its gutter torn off, and the white plastic fencing at several homes was damaged, Wolf said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge seeks up to $50,000 for trees allegedly cut on city greenbelt

Posted at
By 6 Comments

CLINTON—Oak Ridge is seeking up to $50,000 in damages from two residents accused of cutting down about 30 trees on a city greenbelt near Westlook Circle in September 2009.

The city filed the lawsuit against Oak Ridge residents Chris Dollman and Jeff Crawford in Anderson County Circuit Court on Friday, Aug. 17.

[Read more…]