Tennessee tornadoes: Business owners pick up pieces, document losses, count blessings

To truly fathom the devastating precision wielded by a tornado, ask 38-year-old local business owner Michael Crawley.

Crawley's Springfield franchise of Jet's Pizza bore the brunt of the relentless onslaught of severe storms and tornadoes that swept through Middle Tennessee last Saturday, a destructive fury that claimed the lives of six people.

The Jet's Pizza location is no more.

A mere 200 yards away on Memorial Boulevard, Tropical Smoothie Café stands virtually unscathed, serving as a stark juxtaposition to the havoc that befell the Springfield Station strip mall — the epicenter of the town's devastation.

Where Crawley's daughter narrowly escaped the tornado while working.

"It was an hour or so later before I was able to get home and see her," Crawley said, "give her a hug and tell her I love her."

In the aftermath of the catastrophe, hundreds of Middle Tennessee business owners are gradually rebuilding their livelihoods with insurance adjusters, construction firms and disaster loans, while trying to support employees.

Even for those with disaster plans, the experience is shocking and surreal.

"For those business owners who have never experienced a disaster, their first questions are: 'Where do I go? How do I find out what to do?," said Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Schulz. "We advise beginning the process with your insurance company and the Small Business Administration."

Disconnected power lines snake through streets and yards of Madison and neighboring Hendersonville along Gallatin Pike. The somber scene is repeated on destroyed blocks in Springfield, Clarksville and White Bluff, where twisters also left behind deep scars.

In Clarksville and across Montgomery County, 42 commercial sites and 971 residences were heavily damaged in the onslaught. An estimated 60-80 businesses were badly wrecked in Hendersonville.

Pizza business destroyed, losing customers: 'That's hard to gain back'

The Springfield Jet's Pizza location is a total loss, but Crawley said he can transfer 15 displaced employees to his Clarksville locations that were spared.

He's unsure whether the Springfield store will reopen.

"Pizza, especially in a small city like this, has a lot of competition and small margins," Crawley said. "As we shut down, that business will be split up into whatever percentage and go to the competition.

"That's hard to gain back."

To recover some of his loss, Crawley is footing the delivery bill for his Springfield customers to have pizza delivered from his Goodlettsville location.

Tornado aftermath in Madison: 'We have generators'

The lingering scent of exhaust still permeates Gallatin Pike in Madison, outside O'Reilly Auto Parts, where utility poles — cleaved in half by the violent power of 130 mile-per-hour winds — loom ominously over the thoroughfare.

But business continues for the auto parts supplier. Prominently displayed on the marquee sign of 1300 Gallatin Pike is a testament to the community's resilience.

"We have generators"

Inside, workers wearing coats help customers in the dark. Power will be out for at least a week. A fiery explosion captured on video as the tornado tore through the block damaged significant infrastructure.

Brandon Wooldridge, the owner of Big Play Entertainment Center, was finally enjoying returns on the business he and his wife built over the last two years. The business opened in October.

Big Play was hosting four children's birthday parties when the storm tore into it. Miraculously, there were only two minor injuries.

"The sides of the building are blown out and all our equipment's destroyed," Wooldridge said. "I don't see a way to salvage it."

Now, he is focused on keeping the building's remains safe from looters, loiterers and fraudsters looking to profit from the crisis.

Wooldridge said he would be lucky to restore the business within two years.

"It's pretty disheartening but I try to focus on what's positive," he said. "I appreciate the community support before and after this. I'm 100% committed to rebuilding."

Support for Middle Tennessee business owners, employees

While businesses' first calls are likely to insurance companies and the Small Business Association, there's also local support networks for businesses and employees affected by the storms.

"We're always alert to the needs of businesses in disaster circumstances, but a tremendous amount of the recovery depends on the businesses themselves," said Schulz of the Nashville chamber of commerce. "We're busy showing people where to go for help."

Schulz said he encourages all businesses to purchase business-interruption coverage for times like this and to connect with their wider communities.

"The degree to which the community can support that business by continuing to do business with them is important," Schulz said. "Not only is that important to that business's survival, but it's also important to sustaining their energy."

Chambers of commerce can connect damaged businesses with similar companies that can support continued operations.

Nashville Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a network of nonprofits, religious groups and government resources coordinating disaster response in Davidson County.

Local communities also enjoy shelters, supplies, cleanup support and other emergency services for those impacted.

The Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, for example, is organizing rent relief and other financial support for out-of-work employees who lost their jobs in the tornado.

The organization will also host SBA and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials for business owners to seek loans and other recovery support.

"The heart of our business community is more concerned about their employees than their businesses now because it's two weeks before Christmas," said chamber president Kathleen Hawkins. "They're devastated and still giving."

Racing back to Springfield after tornado: 'Changes your perspective'

Back in Springfield, Crawley, who is also a basketball coach at South Haven Christian School, was at a road game in Jackson, Tennessee, when he heard the first tornado warnings. The team's bus departed as the storm line approached.

As Crawley sped home, one of Springfield's head firefighters called. The building was a total loss. Everyone working that day was missing.

Crawley eventually received word that his employees fled to a nearby Kroger. Someone let them in the grocery store at the moment the tornado ripped apart the building, where they'd been working moments before.

"To have this drop down on your building and to have your family so close," he said, "it's really awakening and changes your perspective."

There is hope, though.

Across the street from Crawley's pizza shop, Holman Jewelers, a community fixture since 1953, lays in ruins. An employee was injured in the rotating 120-mile winds that blew through the brick store.

More than 100 concerned neighbors posted prayers on the store's Facebook page in recent days, including notes of encouragement such as this post from Susan Atchley.

"When you reopen all of Springfield will be waiting to buy from our local business."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville tornados aftermath: Businesses, employees look to recover