Fountain City Church Damaged by Tree Branch Impact

Live report from North Knoxville reveals dramatic scene during a Bible study session

Some of the worst local damage witnessed tonight occurred in the Fountain City community. A live report from North Knoxville brought us directly to the scene at Fountain City Church, where a tree branch had forcefully breached the roof.

Reporter Avery Gingrich, speaking from inside the church, described the incident: “I’m inside Fountain City Church, and what I’m holding in my hand here is a piece of a tree branch that broke through the roof just over an hour ago. It created a loud banging sound while a young adult Bible study group was in session in the basement.”

Joining Avery on scene was Chaz Gooden, director of the young adult program at the church. “We meet every Thursday in the basement for Bible study,” Chaz explained. “Just as we were wrapping up, we heard the sound of rain and wind. Suddenly, a loud noise signaled that a tree had punctured the roof. We later discovered that the branch came from one of the only trees near the church – located across the street at Gresham Middle School. It also took out some power lines in the process.”

As residents received multiple weather alerts that evening, the unfolding drama quickly became apparent. “There were about a dozen weather alerts going off on everyone’s phones,” said Chaz. “It was then we realized that we were under a tornado watch, something we had not checked before leaving home.” Despite the initial fear, local officials confirmed that there were no injuries reported.

The incident also exposed additional vulnerabilities in the aging building structure. “We have noticed water damage in several areas,” Chaz added, noting that leaks had prompted the church to use trash cans to catch water. “Every time it rains heavily, we see some water coming in. We’re trying to raise funds to renovate and secure the building, but this event is another item on our list of urgent repairs.”

After the live report, the broadcast shifted to additional storm footage from across the area. Viewers were shown clips of heavy rain and hail in Taswell and Claiborne County, with perspective shots highlighting the size of the hailstones.

This dramatic episode serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature. As the community begins assessing the damage and planning repairs, officials emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant during severe weather conditions.