The governor’s office earlier confirmed the visit will take place six months to the day that five twisters claimed nine lives, destroyed 285 homes and badly damaged hundreds of others.
The dedication site is in one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the storms — the Dalton Pike and Archer Lane areas.
According to Jim Polier, recovery director of the Bradley County Long-Term Recovery Organization, the governor will visit with the Parker family at noon at their new home at 2501 Eggleston Drive. Officials will also lead a memorial to the victims who died as a result of the storms.
According to earlier reports, the dedication of the rehabilitated home event is titled, “Six Months: Road to Recovery.”
The home suffered extensive damage from the tornado which ripped through the Lead Mine and Blue Springs valleys before trekking through the Dalton Pike and Spring Place Road areas, then northeastward to Bates Pointe, Willbrook and through the Chatata Valley out of Bradley County.
The path in Bradley County alone was approximately 40 miles long. The estimated collective damage was assessed at nearly $50 million.
Recovery began within days as support for the multitude of storm victims was established by local charitable organizations and the faith-based community.
Cleanup began within a few weeks, but the Bradley County landscape in the areas hardest hit still reflects the events of that day. The storms began at 9 a.m. and ended about 12 hours later. Officials now report as many as 10 tornadoes touched down in the city and county. Some of the twisters spun off other, smaller twisters, but according to National Weather Service, five main tornadoes ranging from EF-1 to EF-4 struck the community.
The broad funnel cloud that originated near Tuscaloosa, Ala., redeveloped in Northwest Georgia and raked through Hamilton County before striking Bradley County, finally dying out in upper Northeast Tennessee.
Earlier, Whirlpool Corporation and local officials visited the Parker home and were instrumental in the progress made for that recovering family, according to Polier.
“LTRO was able to help with this family,” Polier said. “We committed approximately $4,000 to the rehabilitation efforts and Whirlpool associates provided labor.”
Whirlpool North America President Marc Bitzer showed company commitment to the Bradley County area by helping with the Parker family home and making sure Whirlpool partnered with the LTRO to ensure the company would provide appliances for those in need.
“Thursday is the six-month anniversary of the tragedy. We want to remember the past in memory and shift to the future,” Polier said.
Those who lost their lives in the community that day included Kandice Satterfield, Evelyn Johnson, Robert King, Lisa Pack, Tami Glasgow, Chase Glasgow, Rhonda Smith, Tommy Evans and Eva Catlett.
Polier and Case Manager Supervisor Lisa Mantooth recently announced the first full home rebuild is ongoing in Bradley County and four other families have been approved for rebuild. Polier said partnerships between Habitat for Humanity and other organizations are making the monies donated to bradleydisasterrelief.org go further.
LTRO continues to assist families with unmet needs. About 90 families are being aided at present through LTRO. From home furnishings to clothing, all needs are currently being met. The Salvation Army Distribution Center continues to provide daily-use items as well.
