Tornado touches down in Gibson Co.
GIBSON CO., Tenn.—Residents of Gibson county came together this evening to clean up after severe weather.
A tornado touch down in Rutherford is affecting the residents of the area.
Gibson Electric Membership Company reported that over one thousand of their residents are without power. Power lines were torn down by the storm.
Those that were affected say that this storm wasn’t as bad as the 2006 storm.
In 2006, it unfortunately took the lives of some residents but this one only injured one.
“I’m glad that I’m okay, and I’m glad that we didn’t have any more injuries and damage than what we did. 2006 was way worse than this to say the least,” said John Baker, Battalion Chief, Gibson Co. Fire Department.
Baker was preparing for any projected storm damage prior to the station being hit by the storm.
After storms, the fire station makes sure to help with any rescue and any recovery.
“The wind got up and I looked out the back door and I saw the rotations in the clouds, and I decided to let our dispatcher know through the radio. And I went to the office to use the radio and by the time I transmitted the whole building shook and we lost power,” Baker said.
He was able to help warn his team of the tornado which ultimately allowed others to remain safe.
Chief Baker says that there are no casualties in this incident and for that he is grateful.
This fire station will now set up their command post at the Rutherford Fire Department.
“Chief Stafford was nice enough to let us use his building to start surveying the damage and going and doing our rescue fire work and checking on folks,” Baker said.
Gibson County EMC is working diligently to restore power to those without after the storm.
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