BLOG: Damage, power outages after severe storms occur across Tennessee Valley

(WHNT) – The Weather Authority has been tracking storms across the Tennessee Valley on Wednesday evening.

With those storms came reports of damage, hail and power outages across multiple counties.

If you have a photo of storm damage in your area, you can send them to photo@whnt.com.

Huntsville City officials held a news conference Thursday to give an update on damage in the city. The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday afternoon that a tornado touched down in Five Points and Southeast Huntsville.

City Administrator John Hamilton said residents with brush and debris should place it out at the curb as usual but warned that there might be a delay in picking that brush up.

Hamilton said Maple Hill Cemetary was also significantly impacted by the storm and is closed at this time.

“There are a significant number of trees that were downed inside the cemetery,” he said. “Obviously, that affects your loved ones’ graves sight but we do need you to be patient right now.”

Maple Hill Cemetary is a historical cemetery that serves as the resting place for five Alabama governors, five U.S. senators and ten U.S. congressmen.

Huntsville Utilities President and CEO Wes Kelley said 10,000 customers, or just under 5 percent of all of Huntsville Utilities customers, lost power at the peak of the outage Wednesday night. and 3,300 people remained without power Thursday afternoon. Kelley said that there are 165 outage locations throughout the utility company’s system.

“That 165 outage locations means that’s 165 different crews, trips, that will have to go resolve power problems at those locations,” he said “That will take some time, to work our way across the system.”

For the latest forecast information, you can always visit our weather page or our interactive radar.

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