Sub-tornado severe windstorm (~60mph) tore a path through the recreation area and along the southern edge of Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery Sunday June 11, 2023 3-4pm
The path of tree destruction started at the obey river, ran through the middle of the US Army Corps of Engineers Campground, along the southern side of the hatchery, through the creek fishing area where we had the annual Kid’s Fishing Rodeo yesterday and up through the tail end of the effluent area and up the hill across from the hatchery entrance.
STAFF AND CITIZENS
All staff are accounted for with no individual personnel damage or injuries reported last night or the following day. Fish Biologist Wilson Tanksley was providing care for the Barrens Topminnows up in the small metal rearing shed when the storm hit.
No injuries reported from campers, visitors, or volunteers. Trees fell on one new camper and one truck. No injuries/fatalities from the storm reported so far.
BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
- No damage to primary station buildings reported
- One destroyed porta-potty rented from Clay Country Farm Supply
- Heavily damaged western fence adjacent to residence 4, near the US Army Corps of Engineers office
- Hatchery southern fence damaged enough to require full replacement from the dozen or so trees crushing it.
- The metal T&E hatchery shed flooded destroying 1 pump and damaging a few others. Some electrical damage has occurred shorting something between the ground and metal shed causing surges and charge potential on the shell/door (minor 110v shocks to a staff member with no injuries to report)
- The hatchery creek visitor and fishing area is closed for 10-20 downed and ready to collapse ‘dead-man’ trees
- Trees and limbs are down throughout the hatchery and creek
- The net has a bunch of small holes but no major damage despite a tree top landing on it in one spot
DAMAGE RECOVERY
Damage recovery needs to start with the felling and removal of dangerous trees (asap) and troubleshooting and repair of electrical system in the BTM building.
The rest of the mitigation is removal of downed trees/limbs, replacement of 1200’ of linear fence at the hatchery, replacement of a porta-potty for Clay County Farm Supply, arborist evaluation and felling of concern hatchery trees, and replacement of the section of western fence near residence 4.
Cost estimates (rough) 65k (not including costs shared by US Army Corps of Engineers or likely contracting overhead fees)
- Emergency assistance requested for the removal of dead-man trees – minimum $2500, full cost likely closer to 6-14k for the high priority trees at 500-900 per tree section not including contracting costs
- Emergency assistance requested for immediate electrician repairs of the BTM building – up to $2500
- Repairing the hatchery fence may be a joint endeavor with the US Army Corps of Engineers depending on a pending damage response meeting – fence replacement costs $32,400 not including contracting overhead
- Residence fence repair (next to an automatic gate ~$2500
- Arborist evaluation ~$2500
- Porta-jon replacement $850 (donator is checking with their insurance)
- Tree/limb removal 15-25 trees current trees plus any recommended by on arborist evaluation at 500-900 each: up to $22500
SUMMARY/NOTES
- With no injuries and the winds not reaching tornado windspeed, and just a bunch of minor damage, the hatchery got pretty lucky.
- This is the third major windstorm to hit the hatchery this year and the new net design has survived mostly unscathed.
- Recovery work exceeds station staffing level timely mitigation capabilities, funding assistance is requested (some of this work may be done with a mat response, but mobilization would have to be quick)
