Clay County officials believe the worst of the recent winter storm is over as utility crews finish repairing main power lines and water tanks return to near capacity.
Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan expressed gratitude for the outside assistance provided to the county to get past the winter weather. Reagan said Tri County Electric reported the Clay County work mostly done.
“He felt like that the worst was over right now for us because they just had finished up getting all of our main three-phase units, lines back up, and our single-phase is back up on the main lines,” Reagan said. “They’re working on some individual lines that’s going to some individual homes that had some damage as far as tearing the service loose on their houses.”
According to Reagan, Tri-County Electric crews faced significant challenges, including broken poles and instances where new trees fell on lines immediately after repairs were made. With the majority of local work complete, some crews are now traveling to Macon County to assist with similar damage there.
“He said every time they would get the power, the lines back live, he said something else would fall on it,” Reagan said. “He kind of said like a dog chasing its tail there for a little bit.”
Beyond electricity, the county faced water shortages when power outages disabled the pumps for the Northwest Clay Utility District. Emergency management officials and volunteer fire departments established a water distribution center at the fairgrounds to assist residents while the tanks refilled.
“We never had a single problem get to any house through all this,” EMS Director Andy Hall said. “I don’t think we was held up responding by any tree in road or anything like that.”
Hall credited the road crews for keeping routes clear, allowing emergency personnel to transport residents dependent on oxygen to facilities with power. Reagan noted that the state highway department and county crews worked around the clock to salt roads and remove debris to ensure medical access was maintained.
“It’s going to be a disaster declaration that would not only be for government buildings and properties, it will also be for individuals,” Reagan said. “I’m sure glad that they decided to do that.”
Officials are now coordinating with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regarding debris removal and are awaiting federal approval for disaster relief funding to reimburse volunteer departments.