Weekend storm downs hundreds of trees in Selmer

SELMER, Tenn. — Around the clock cleanup is under way in Selmer after a severe thunderstorm moved through the area around 5 p.m. Sunday.

The National Weather Service determined the toppled trees and other damage were caused by a microburst. A microburst is classified as a strong thunderstorm producing very strong winds in a short amount of time in a small area.

Residents said the intense storm only lasted about five minutes.

A severe thunderstorm uprooted trees and threw them into homes on Sunday evening in Selmer along Country Club Lane.

“We heard thunder off in the distance. Then all of a sudden, it got dark, wind picked up, lightning real close. It started hailing and raining, and then the next thing I knew we had a tree on the house,” Derrel Treece, a homeowner in the area, said.

Crews have been clearing roads and restoring powers since right after Sunday night’s storm.

“Last night after it hit, this area was completely blocked off,” Mayor John Smith said. “Power lines were down, trees were down, and so we had to get into this area quick.”

Mike Morris is another resident in the area with damage to his home. “They were immediately out here — chainsaws all night, and everybody really pitched in. It was good,” Morris said.

The National Weather Serviced determined the damage to be a microburst with 75 mph winds. Residents said the area looked like a war zone.

The damage extends 1.6 miles long and 1.3 miles wide, and homeowners said although there is still a lot of work ahead, they are thankful no one was injured.

“It’s overwhelming, you know — sinking in right now — and we’re very fortunate that no one was hurt,” Morris said. “That’s the most important thing.”

“We got to get cleaned up, then we got to get a new roof put on and ceiling, and it’s just going to be a major process,” Treece said.

The National Weather Service also said there was a “short-lived circulation” in the middle of the golf course, but that was a small feature in the overall wind flow from the microburst.

Some residents were still without power Monday night. Utility workers say they’re hoping to get it restored by Tuesday morning at the latest.