Storms pound state but little damage locally

Bedford County escaped severe damage from the strong storms which moved across Middle Tennessee Thursday afternoon, producing heavy rain, flight delays and reports of a tornado.

Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said this morning that three roads had to be closed last night due to flooding -- Zion Hill, Bugscuffle and Mullins Mill. Mullins Mill Road had already been reopened by 8 a.m., when the Times-Gazette spoke with Smotherman. Bugscuffle Road was expected to reopen by lunchtime, with Zion Hill Road expected to open later in the day.

"It's a world of water," said Smotherman.

A tree fell on Hopkins Bridge Road, temporarily blocking traffic, but a path had been cleared for traffic by this morning.

Shelbyville Municipal Airport recorded 1.93 inches of rain.

A program on severe weather preparedness scheduled for Thursday night at First Baptist Church had to be cancelled Wednesday because the presenter -- WTVF (Channel 5) meteorologist Charlie Neese -- was needed in Nashville to help with team coverage of the storm.

Across the midstate, there was property damage but no immediate report of serious injuries.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Cohen in Nashville said the agency received a report of a possible tornado at 4:06 p.m. about seven miles east of downtown Nashville.

The NWS has not confirmed it was a tornado. Trees were reported blown down in the same area.

The weather service had reports of flooding and some isolated wind damage in Nashville.

The Federal Aviation Administration evacuated the tower at Nashville International Airport and all flight activity was stopped temporarily.

The airport asked people in the terminal to take cover away from windows. Flights resumed after about an hour, but delays were expected.

"We received a tremendous amount of rain in a short amount of time," said Jeremy Heidt, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Earliest estimates were 2-3 inches of rain in just a couple of hours.

Department of Transportation spokeswoman Julie Oaks said two tractor trailers overturned on Interstate 40 east of downtown Nashville at about 4:20 p.m., one headed east and the other west. Three lanes were blocked for some three hours, but the drivers were unhurt.

At Centennial Park near downtown, water was over the wheelwells of cars. Elsewhere, manhole covers popped off because of the force of water. Police closed off a few streets because of flooding.

Some drivers complained that their windshield wipers were unable to clear their windows because the rain was so heavy.

An exterior wall collapsed onto a car at a tire store along Murfreesboro Road southeast of Nashville.

"We're just thankful that none of our customers or teammates were injured," said Dan McDonald, a spokesman for Bridgestone Firestone.

Near the store, a large power line snapped and leaned over the road and the storms tossed tires more than 300 yards, McDonald said.

Emergency officials reported that about 1,000 customers were without power in the Donelson area east of Nashville shortly after the storm, as well as street flooding and fallen trees.

Amanda Sluss, a spokeswoman with the Davidson County Office of Emergency Management, said the roof was blown off an Internal Revenue Service building and had significant water damage.

Sluss said there were no reports of injuries, but said they were concerned about more flooding into the evening.

"Flooding can be deceptive especially when the sun goes down," she said.

Some schools held students over because of the bad weather.