TMP Reports
Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2009 4:38 pm

Tornado-damaged structures doubled from 253 Saturday to 519 Sunday, the Murfreesboro Building and Codes Department reported Sunday after completing the initial damage assessment.

Of those structures:

• 59 were totally destroyed.

• 182 sustained major damage.

• 109 sustained minor damage.

• 169 more were affected.

This information has been furnished to the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency for use in the federal disaster declaration process, Murfreesboro Police Maj. Clyde Adkison reported in a press release issued Sunday afternoon.

Only about 450 residents are now without electricity as of 4 p.m. Murfreesboro Electric Department reported the main areas without power include Northwest Broad Street, Tomahawk Trace, Meadowhill and Riverview Drive.

“Please continue to keep all of the victims and their families in your thoughts,” Adkison said.

Some of the electric meters have been pulled for safety reasons from various structures. Please do not call the electric department to have meters re-installed until the building inspectors have approved the electricity to be turned back on.

If the utility meter was pulled, occupants need to call the codes department at 893-3750 first to be inspected for electrical and gas approval before calling for re-activation with the utility companies. The Codes Department will resume normal operating hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday. Their phone number is

City employees from the Solid Waste, Street, Urban Environmental, Water and Sewer, and Golf Departments, Town of Smyrna and private firms contracted by the city continued their efforts today and have collected a total of 2,746,000 pounds within the first 48 hours after the tornado hit.

Updates from other departments include:

Atmos Gas:

Some of the gas meters have been pulled from various structures. Please do not call the gas company to have meters re-installed until the building inspectors have approved the gas to be turned back on.

Debris Removal:

Debris removal is expected to continue for some time. Owners and volunteers can assist in the debris removal process by placing yard waste and building content debris in separate areas at the curb but outside the street surface. Due to the amazing volunteer effort, debris collection is producing great quantities of materials and each area will require multiple pickups by city personnel and they will receive it.

Fire Department:

All fires and burns have been banned until further notice. Absolutely no fire or burn permits will be issued to anyone by the Murfreesboro Fire Department. The Fire Department is ready to respond to any future emergency issues.

Police Department:

The safety and security in our community neighborhood is our primary concern. We are still operating three command posts in the affected areas. Street closures will definitely continue on Haynes Drive, Sulphur Springs Road, Thompson Lane, and D’Ann Street. Vehicular traffic is better, but we are still asking individuals NOT to park on the streets. Please park in driveways and yards.

Volunteers are reminded to check in get a pass at Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency at 1220 West College St.

The Police Department is operating on 12-hour shifts and has cancelled all days off. We had another quiet night Saturday night and expect the measures we have undertaken will help these to continue.

Other City Operations:

All City of Murfreesboro offices will be open normal business hours on Monday morning and management of recovery operations will shift from the Emergency Operations Center.

Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department reports that water, water pressure and sewer service remain fully safe and operational.

While normal city garbage pickup service will continue, special pickup of bulk items will be temporarily discontinued to allow those employees and vehicles to concentrate on tornado-damaged areas.

The city Greenway System is open except for the portion between the Thompson Lane Trailhead and 84 Lumber; this segment is temporarily closed for safety reasons due to tornado damage to the landscape.

Murfreesboro City Schools:
All Murfreesboro City Schools will be open on Monday at their normal time, although TCAP testing will not be held on Monday. For additional details about bus routes for tornado-damaged areas, check the school web site at www.cityschools.net later today.

City Cable 3 and City Web Page:

We would like to point the public as well as the media to our local government cable channel. There are pages of updated information available 24 hours a day. Additional information may be found at www.murfreesborotn.gov.

Mail delivery:

Normal mail delivery will occur if there is a mailbox. Residents may have their mail forwarded to another address or held at either Post Office facility by completing a form at the Post Office if they prefer. Options are to have your mail delivered regularly, rerouted or held at the Post Office.