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Thanks to crews from surrounding areas, 500 customers received power overnight. We have crews from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Tullahoma, Tenn., Decatur, Benton County, Tenn., and Florence. Work to restore power to all customers could take two or three more days. Some areas that have extensive damage, could take longer. As many as 200 poles may have to be replaced.
ATHENS-Today, Gov. Robert Bentley toured some of the damaged areas in Limestone County and notified responders he is seeking a disaster declaration from President Obama to help fund debris removal.
Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said the city department heads have started holding meetings to discuss a plan for disposal of the
Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks
debris once the city picks it up. For now, residents need to divide debris by construction material, recyclable material, metal/tin, appliances and wood. Please put the piles in the right-of-way but do not put them in a ditch or in the roadway. If there is a down power pole or power line, do not put the piles of debris near the poles or lines.
“Citizens do not need to be concerned that they have to get the debris by the road for pickup today,” Marks said. “We will be picking up debris probably for 60 to 90 more days.”
If a homeowner hires a contractor to do work such as tear down a structure, that contractor is responsible for hauling away the material. Citizens should also insure that anyone who does work on their property has a business license from the city and insurance.
Athens Utilities has about 5,500 customers without power, down from a high of 16,000. Most of these outages are west of Athens in the Coxey community. Athens Utilities provides electricity for the entire county.
Thanks to crews from surrounding areas, 500 customers received power overnight. We have crews from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Tullahoma, Tenn., Decatur, Benton County, Tenn., and Florence. Work to restore power to all customers could take two or three more days. Some areas that have extensive damage, could take longer. As many as 200 poles may have to be replaced. Elm Street between Lucas Ferry Road and Hine Street remains closed.
“I want to stress that motorists do not need to drive around the barricade,” Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said. “Utility crews are putting poles and lines up, 
and motorists who drive around barricades put those workers at risk and are subject to receiving a ticket.”
and motorists who drive around barricades put those workers at risk and are subject to receiving a ticket.”Volunteers who want to assist in relief efforts should contact United Way of Athens-Limestone County. The office is at 419 S. Marion St., Athens, or there is online registration at unitedwayathenslimestone.com. 
Volunteers who are working in damaged areas need to stay out of the way of emergency responders and utility workers.
Volunteers who are working in damaged areas need to stay out of the way of emergency responders and utility workers.The National Weather Service’s preliminary report rates the tornado that did the most damage as an EF-3 with a peak wind of 140 mph, a path of 15.7 miles and a width of 600 yards. The NWS report states two more supercells crossed nearly the same areas following the EF-3. Additional brief tornadoes could have occurred very close to this damage path, the report states.
