Update, 10:25 p.m.: 7,052 CDE customers are without power.
Update, 1:40 p.m.: According to CDE, 7,680 CDE customers are still without power.
Update, 10 a.m.: Clarksville’s CDE is down to 7,900 households without power.
Previously:
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – About 14,400 households were without power at 9 a.m. Saturday, the day after Montgomery County was barraged by wind gusts that reached a record 79 mph.
About 9,400 CDE Lightband customers were without power at 9 a.m. About 5,000 CEMC members in Montgomery County were without power.
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Dispatchers and emergency coordinators respond to the wind storm on March 3, 2023. (CFR, contributed)
Dispatchers and emergency coordinators respond to the wind storm on March 3, 2023. (CFR, contributed)
Dispatchers and emergency coordinators respond to the wind storm on March 3, 2023. (CFR, contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Crews were receiving help from 17 crews with 100 more workers that came from surrounding counties and states to restore power.
“The additional crews are here and working hard!” CDE said. “We have workers from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia and Indiana and can’t thank them enough for coming to help our community.”
The Walmart on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard does not have refrigerated or frozen items at this time, according to Montgomery County Government. “Everything is being removed due to their power loss for seven hours. Please seek other resources when buying groceries today.”
NEWS ALERTS: To get free breaking news alerts on your phone, text the word NEWS to 43414.
Widespread outages
A 79 mph wind gust was recorded at Outlaw Field at 12:56 p.m. Friday, the strongest recorded today in Tennessee.
Those gusts took down trees, utility poles and power lines. At the height of the outage Friday afternoon, 31,000 of CDE’s 79,500 customers lost power.
Throughout the multi-county CEMC system, 48,000 members lost power, with over 8,000 of those in Montgomery County.
Powerlines and trees damaged in Clarksville, on March 4, 2023, the day after a powerful windstorm. (CDE, contributed)
Powerlines and trees damaged in Clarksville, on March 4, 2023, the day after a powerful windstorm. (CDE, contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Cecilia Arevalo contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Pamela Klomfas contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Pamela Davenport contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Kelly Mullins contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Katarine Dennany contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Jenny Dugle contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Jennifer Barber contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Jennifer Barber contributed)
A large tree down on Earl Road, off Highway 12, after heavy winds on March 3, 2023. (Gina Biter, contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Michael Rios Clarksville Fire & Rescue contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Lukas Davis contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Nicole Gehouskey contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Marilyn Neff contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Chloe Foster contributed)
Powerlines and trees were damaged in Clarksville during a powerful windstorm, March 3, 2023. (Camille Calabrese Santora contributed)
Sgt. Young and Trooper Hawkins clear trees on Interstate 24 in Montgomery County on March 3, 2023. (THP, contributed)
Trees and power lines down in Clarksville on March 3, 2023. (CDE, contributed)
Trees and power lines down in Clarksville on March 3, 2023. (CDE, contributed)
“The widespread outages means we can’t provide estimated times of restoration,” CDE said Saturday. “We know this is frustrating and we assure you our employees are working around the clock to get power restored.
“We truly appreciate all the support & patience from the Clarksville community! Y’all are keeping our spirits high!” CDE said in a Tweet.
CDE customers may receive some incorrect texts.
“Due to the amount of outages on our system, our power restoration texts are going a little crazy. If you receive a text saying your power has been restored, but it’s not, please resubmit your outage. Respond with OUT or click the link.”
