‘Major, major winds:’ Downed trees plague Alcoa, Maryville utilities
By Iva Butler | (ivab@thedailytimes.com)
High winds downed trees in various areas of Blount County Monday morning, causing problems for some residents and Alcoa Electric Department.
Sustained winds of 25 to 39 miles per hour were recorded at 7 a.m. Monday at McGhee Tyson Airport, said Kate Guilette, a meteorologist intern at the U.S. Weather Service in Morristown.
The Alcoa Electric Department “had nothing but trouble all day” Monday, said Alcoa Electric Service Supervisor Troy Morgan.
They had electrical problems caused by trees from Wesley Woods to Saddle Ridge, East Millers Cove and were back on Hunt Road two or three times.
Maryville Electric Department had problems with trees on Sherwood Drive, Hudson Street and Priscilla Drive.
At the Rick and Judy Spicer home on Trigonia Road, Greenback, near the Loudon County line, the wind blew a spruce up by the roots between 6:45 and 7 a.m. Monday.
It also broke some limbs out of pine trees, flipped a canoe on a platform, blew siding off the pool house and fencing and tore the tin off a neighbor’s outbuilding.
“We had major, major winds,” said Judy Spicer, who, along with husband Rich, have lived there for 21 years on Tellico Lake.
“It just scared me to death. There was a tree down and an electric line sparking next door,” she said.
Greenback Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ronnie Lett said they had no calls.
Blount County Highway Department Supt. Bill Dunlap said they had six trees down on Union Grove Road near Allison’s Catfish Restaurant.
There were six cedars and an oak tree down, he added.
Townsend Police Chief Ronnie Suttles said he heard nothing of downed trees. “It quiet as a mouse.”
A cedar tree fell on the back part of the satellite parking lot of Victory Baptist Church, which is located off Montvale Station Road across from the church.
