Numerous traffic lights are out and downed trees dot the city’s landscape. Most heavily damaged were the Haynes Drive, Memorial Boulevard and Cason Lane areas.

Intersections and streets that are either closed or down to one lane with officers directing traffic include Sulphur Springs Road between Memorial and Northfield boulevards and officers are directing traffic at the intersection of Cason Lane and state Route 96 (Franklin Highway), according to Murfreesboro’s traffic engineer Ram Balachandran.

“The signals at the intersection of Cason Lane and Highway 96 will require five to six hours to rebuild,” he said.

Around 5,000 homes were still without power around 9:30 a.m., according to Murfreesboro Electric Department spokesperson Amy Byers, though both power and tree-trimming crews were fast restoring service to those without it.
“We are warning people to report downed power lines at 893-5155 but not to drive over or under the lines,” she said.

Virtually all power had been restored to Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTEMC)’s customers inside the city, MTEMC Communications Coordinator Todd Palmer said.

Traffic crash injuries have been reported however, Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) spokesman Kyle Evans said.

“There have been multiple injury crashes throughout the city,” he said. “Many of these crashes occurred at or near intersections without power.

“We are reminding residents to stay off the roads unless it is necessary to get out,” he continued. “If you approach an intersection with a traffic light out treat it as a four-way stop and please pay attention to the officer’s directions if one is present.”

A fire was reported on Poplar, Assistant Fire Chief Alan Swader said, but when crews arrived on the scene there was no fire though the electrical service box had presumably been hit by a falling tree.

  The City’s emergency responders once again were prepared and responded immediately. Multiple city departments removed debris and re-opened streets blocked by downed trees. Additionally, the Police and Fire departments did an excellent job in response to the storm, said City Manager Rob Lyons.

Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS) never opened today and they remain closed, according to school sources, and county schools were closing at 11 a.m.

Several large trees were uprooted in the Haynes Drive area, Murfreesboro Building and Codes Department Director Gary Whitaker said earlier today. Fallen trees and power and traffic light outages hindered traffic in the Memorial Boulevard and Cason Lane areas as well.

To report major damage to homes or buildings, residents should call Murfreesboro Building and Codes department at 893-3750. Drainage issues can be reported to the city’s engineering department at 893-6441.

  Fallen trees in the public right-of-way only can be reported to the Murfreesboro Streets Department at 893-4380. Trees on private property will not be removed.

Tree or yard waste debris can be taken to the city’s public works facility at 4765 Florence Rd. today through 6 p.m., Murfreesboro Solid Waste Director Joey Smith said. The department’s regular hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.