Sen. Blackburn Tours Tornado-Damaged Communities, Advances Bill to Allow Faster Repairs of Telecom Infrastructure

Jason M. Reynolds

 

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has been busy checking in on the state’s response to the deadly tornadoes that hit Middle Tennessee this week.

On Tuesday night, she met with state officials at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Operations Center to receive an update on tornado response efforts, she said in a press release.

The next day Blackburn was in Middle Tennessee meeting with local officials and visiting with victims at the Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville. She visited Putnam County later in the morning.

She tweeted, “In Wilson County, I received a briefing from County Mayor @HuttoRandall as well as EMS, fire, and law enforcement officials on the latest recovery efforts.”

Blackburn also joined Brian Wilson on 99.7 Supertalk to give an update on what she learned from officials and response efforts in the days to come. Audio is available here.

The senator also tweeted, “It is hard to imagine what the community in Putnam County is going through until you see the devastation first hand. I’m here with @putnamsheriff1

Eddie Farris to thank our first responders and volunteers for all their hard work. @GovBillLee @realDonaldTrump.”

Blackburn mentioned the destruction of communications infrastructure in the storm: “Yesterday, I heard from local officials about how critical communications equipment was destroyed, and the need for additional urgent cell towers. My office immediately made calls and communicated with local officials to help get the situation squared away.”

She vowed to help telecom companies rebuild more quickly in the future.

“This is why I will continue to push the Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act, which I introduced last year. The legislation will remove burdensome red tape and allow companies to quickly rebuild their communications infrastructure in the wake of a natural disaster,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn supported Gov. Bill Lee’s declaration of a disaster, saying, “I joined the Tennessee delegation in supporting @GovBillLee’s request for a major disaster declaration for the Volunteer State.”

The senator praised first responders, including Emergency Medical Services Director Brandon Ward, saying, “Thank you to our first responders, who did not hesitate before running into the aftermath of EF-3/EF-4 tornadoes. State EMS Director Brandon Ward’s home was destroyed, but that did not stop him from reporting to work at the Emergency Operations Center.”

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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One Thought to “Sen. Blackburn Tours Tornado-Damaged Communities, Advances Bill to Allow Faster Repairs of Telecom Infrastructure”

  1. Joni
    March 6, 2020 at 9:07 am

    On her broomstick . . .

    Reply

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