Fall Creek Falls remains without power while clean up continues from this week’s storm.
Van Buren County Emergency Management Public Information Officer Tiwanna Bricker said the command center is still waiting for the National Weather Service’s determination on whether a tornado passed through the park.
“We had a lot of damage to the park,” Bricker said. “We’ve had reports of maybe up to a thousand trees down. There were 13 cars trapped around the Fall Creek Falls Scenic Loop area. So we had to have fire departments from our county and then we also had fire departments from White County area come up to help as well as at least three different teams from TDOT.”
Bricker said assistance was required to get vehicles out and to clear the roadways allowing people to leave the park. She said no people were injured despite widespread damage to the landscape and personal property.
Bricker said crews continue cleaning up the park. She said it will take several more days to bring power back to the area.
“We did see some tree damage that made some of the people out in the field suspect a tornado,” Bricker said. “The National Weather Service would [have to] confirm that once they get people on the ground.”
Bricker said the command center did have numerous reports of electric and phone poles being damaged, torn up, and snapped. She said she did not have a count, but the damage was from Highway 30 in the Pikeville area and on through the park.
“We’ve never had it where there’s been that much damage on the Scenic Loop. It’s been more in outlying areas, with not as many people affected,” Bricker said. “But it’s been many years since we’ve seen this much damage. I can’t even remember the year.”
Bricker said the communities in Van Buren County surrounding the park also experienced power outages, road blockages and many downed trees.
“Many many power lines were down all over the county,” Bricker said. “Most of the outlaying areas of the county were without power for several hours. Some are still without power.”
Bricker said roads had been cleared, but limbs and trees were cut and cleared with a goal to gain access for emergency vehicles at this point. She said people should continue to drive with caution in the affected areas.
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