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Emergency Management reports two tornadoes, Mule Day evacuations; records EMPG grant
Summary
Jeff Hardy reported two confirmed tornadoes, multiple evacuations at Mule Day and sheltering hundreds during the recent storm week; the commission recorded a $42,395.52 EMPG allocation into the emergency budget.
Jeff Hardy, director of Maury County Emergency Management, briefed the commission on the recent severe‑weather week and on recording a federal emergency management grant. Hardy said that between Monday, March 31 and Sunday, April 6 the county experienced 16 severe weather warnings, six tornado watches, 14 tornado warnings and two confirmed tornadoes.
Hardy said one tornado destroyed a home in the Hampshire/Mount Pleasant community off Rippie Lake; the event produced one minor injury treated on scene and no hospitalizations or fatalities. He said the damage reported on Trotwood occurred inside Columbia city limits. Hardy said emergency staff evacuated Mule Day Park four times that week and operated shelters: "Wednesday ... we sheltered 34 people," he said, "Thursday ... 288," and Saturday "66," not counting those temporarily moved inside the park.
Hardy described a county safe space that automatically opens when there is a tornado warning and is intended for people within approximately a 2–2.5 mile radius; he said the facility is not intended for people to drive across the county to reach. He added the county is contacting churches about acting as community safe spaces. He also reported that Maury County partnered with city and state resources and that the county—s EOC handled significant coordination during the event.
Commissioners approved the recording of the EMPG grant for fiscal year 2024, $42,395.52, into the Emergency Management budget by voice vote.
