“Worst I’ve seen here’- Vernon Kerst

Tree damage, power outage for Kerst at Davis Chapel as clean up continues from last week’s storm

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Vernon Kerst was in good company last Tuesday evening when a severe thunderstorm carrying high winds swept through his Donna Lane yard. His neighbors and many others suffered a similar experience, and the clean up continues.

TOP PHOTO: Vernon Kerst figured he lost about half of this Cedar tree.

“This is the worst I’ve seen here in my 10 years,” said Kerst. He lost a portion of his roof in a storm a couple of years ago.

“We lost power (utilities) about 4:45pm Tuesday, and it came back on by seven the next morning,” said Kerst.

Vernon Kerst points to an area of his yard where he suffered some damage from a past storm.

Kerst saw his large Cedar tree rocking with the winds, a neighbor estimated at about 80 miles per hour. “She was rocking, and then dropped,” said Kerst who lost half of that tree.

Vernon Kerst paused from the job nature created for him to visit with us on Monday afternoon.

A lot of the trees, limbs and brush will soon need carrying away. Kerst is still in the process of just cleaning up before he calls the Campbell Road Department for them to pick up the debris. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/06/2024-6AM)