Contributed Photo by Jennifer HoltzhowerThe path of the tornado that ripped roofs from homes, tore highway signs and blew them hundreds of feet and uprooted massive trees on Tuesday evening traveled from Suck Creek to the Big Ridge area of Highway 58, according to Hamilton County Emergency Services officials. National Weather Service officials rated the tornado as an EF2 after initial assessments on the scene. That rating could change as they examine damage in the area later today.
Ken Wilkerson, of HCEMS, said crews are at the scene this morning in the Chickamauga Dam area and surrounding neighborhoods to assess damage.
Wilkerson said the tornado, which roughly followed the Tennessee River on its destructive path, was well-documented by firefighters, emergency medical responders and citizens who captured pictures and video of the funnel cloud with their cell phones.
He said officials are compiling eyewitness reports and will show the images and accounts to National Weather Service experts who will be in Chattanooga later this morning.
Meanwhile, the Salvation Army has volunteers in the Lakeshore area to offer emotional and spiritual care for people affected by the violent storm, according to a news release.
The Salvation Army mobile kitchen unit is roaming the area with Salvation Army volunteers, providing much needed water, coffee, and snacks to victims and clean-up crews, the news release said.
Salvation Army workers and volunteers plan on working well into the night until they are no longer needed, officials said.
Read more in tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Article: Reported tornado hits Chickamauga Dam, other touchdowns reported
Article: Meteorologists predict more severe weather
Article: Area preparing during the quiet before the storm
