BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — High winds hit East Tennessee on Friday, knocking out power for thousands of people as trees fell and some buildings were damaged.
Dispatchers in Blount County said they received more than 50 calls about fallen trees and damage on Friday. Lance Coleman, the director of the Blount County Emergency Management Agency, said his agency was ready for anything the winds could throw at it.
"It was a busy day, but we were real thankful and blessed. It wasn't as bad as we thought it would be," he said. "We were briefed by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency this morning, about 10 a.m. Just talking about what we were expecting for today, and also expected for Monday."
In some parts of Blount County, winds reached around 50 mph. Since the winds came after another storm earlier in the week, the ground was saturated which caused concerns of trees toppling. When they did, dispatchers got the call. They then work to locate the caller and figure out the situation, relaying the information to first responders.
"These dispatchers behind me, they do a great job and they work really hard," he said.
"Obviously, we want to find out where they are, and then we want to find out, you know, maybe the extent of the damage. You know, how much structural damage is there," said Susan Porter Deputy Director of Blount County 911.
With that information in hand, first responders could safely respond to the situations that needed them the most.
"It's just kind of satisfying to watch, you know, how quickly they're able to get out and take care of the calls that come in. You know, the trees down, just going from place to place," said Porter.
Now, the agency is preparing for another kind of threat expected to come next week — winter weather. Snow is in the forecast, and so are rapidly dropping temperatures.
"They're saying that we could get in Blount County at least one to three inches of snow, because the temperatures are going to be dropping from, I think, tonight on down. You know, it's going to be colder and colder and colder," said Coleman.
He said people should take measures to keep themselves safe, such as not driving if they don't need to and staying home.
"If you don't have to be on the road, don't get on the road. You don't have to. And this is a great weekend to go home and watch some movies and stay with the family, for sure. And then stay warm and stay safe, for sure," he said.