More homeowners come forward asking city to inspect foundations after tornado
After December 2023 tornado, homes were discovered not properly anchored to foundations.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A year after National Weather Service (NWS) inspectors found homes in Clarksville in the path of the tornado not properly anchored to their foundations, officials are offering to inspect the foundations of homes for concerned residents.
A WSMV4 Investigation revealed data from NWS that showed homes in North Clarksville only secured to their foundations with adhesive tape and nails.
Juan Resendez spoke with WSMV4 Investigates after the tornado, saying that he had no idea about the lack of proper anchoring at his home until investigators came through, finding no bolts were used to secure it.
“It’s almost like an insult to injury,” Resendez said.
Resendez’s home was built in 1998 and building codes from the time show that walls were supposed to be anchored to the foundation with bolts every four feet.
A year after the tornado and the discoveries by NWS, Jimmy Settle, spokesman for the city, tells WSMV4 Investigates that two people came forward with concerns that their homes too were not properly secured to the foundation.
Settle said the foundations of those homes were too badly damaged by the tornado to tell whether they were properly secured.
“Having said that, City Building Codes is happy to inspect any existing homes upon request, particularly those that were permitted during previous administrations and under earlier International Code guidelines,” Settle wrote to WSMV4 Investigates.
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