Grundy County storm recovery efforts

GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. — A powerful line of severe weather tore through the Tennessee Valley early Sunday morning, leaving behind a path of destruction that impacted homes, infrastructure, parks, and the lives of many residents.

In Grundy County, local officials are working around the clock to assess damage and restore normalcy.

Matthew Griffith, the Director of Emergency Management for Grundy County, was one of the first to respond when the storm hit just after 1:15 a.m.

“We started hearing the storm come through, and I got a notification about taking cover. They saw some rotation,” Griffith said, recalling the moments leading up to the event. “It happened really quick. We immediately got dispatched out.”

According to Griffith, everyone from volunteer fire departments and police officers to utility companies and road crews sprang into action.

“Everybody was on deck,” he explained. “We knew something bad had happened, and we just started working like a well-oiled machine—getting roads reopened, rescuing people from damaged homes, and doing everything we could to make sure people were safe.”

Griffith, whose son plays on one of the local sports fields, spoke with emotion as he surveyed the damage to the community park.

“It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “There have been new renovations, all thanks to volunteers. We’ve worked hard for what we’ve got here, and then in a moment, disaster wipes it all away.”

But despite the devastation, he remained focused on the mission at hand: “Our emergency operations plan is active. Right now, the priority is making sure our citizens are safe and well. We’ll clean up the rest in time.”

Grundy County Mayor Michael Brady emphasized the importance of community in the face of such challenges.

“Well, the first thing is just making sure everybody’s safe and secure,” he said. “Living in rural Tennessee, everyone knows their neighbor. When something like this happens, it gets personal—you know people by their first names.”

Brady elaborated that the county’s focus now is identifying specific needs and making sure no one is left behind.

“We’ll continue to reach out and do our very best to help our friends and neighbors.”

When asked if he had any words of comfort for residents, he encouraged people to reach out for help. “If you do have a need, contact Tracy City Hall, EMA, or the County Mayor’s Office,” he said. “We’ll do our best to expedite those needs.”

Tracy City Mayor Stacie Hutcheson echoed the sentiments of heartbreak, but added that the community’s resilience would carry them through.

“We’re devastated. We’re heartbroken,” she said. “But this is a resilient community. The strength here will always prevail.”

Hutcheson highlighted the damage to a beloved local park that has served families for generations.

“This park has been here since the 1940s. It was recently revived by our parks and recreation team after 20 years. The kids have been playing here for their second or third season.”

The town had even planned to start a new mural on the park barn this past Saturday, a project she hopes can still happen in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to get there,” Hutcheson added. “We’ve had support from surrounding communities and we’re grateful. Just keep us in your prayers.”

As for what’s next, Griffith said teams will continue assessments in partnership with the National Weather Service, which is scheduled to visit Monday to determine whether the storm included straight-line winds or possibly a tornado.

“We’re just trying to get answers for the people of this community,” Griffith said. “And I can’t thank our volunteers, emergency personnel, and utility crews enough. They were on site within hours, doing everything they could.”

Though the physical recovery will take time, one message rang loud and clear from every leader: Grundy County will stand back up, together.