Slow Recovery Begins From West Tennessee, Kentucky Storms

By John Partipilo and Holly McCall, Tennessee Lookout

December 15, 2021

Formerly known to most Tennesseans as the home of the late governor Ned Ray McWherter, Dresden, Tennessee joins the roster of towns known by name nationally for the devastation caused by tornadoes: Xenia, Ohio. Greensburg, Kanas. Joplin, Missouri. Mayfield, Kentucky and now, Dresden.

The north side of the town’s Main Street was flattened, including City Hall and retail stores. Dresden native Rick Herron photographed some of the destruction.

Among the organizations raising funds for disaster relief in the area is The Volunteer Center for Rural Development, which was founded by McWherter and former state representatives Roy Herron, Craig Fitzhugh and Mark Maddox. Fitzhugh is now mayor of Ripley.

And photojournalist John Partipilo has continued to document the aftereffects of the weekend’s tornadoes in Western Kentucky.

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit network of state government news sites supported by grants and a coalition of donors.