NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT/TNS) -- With eleven days left in the month the National Weather Service says Tennessee has already seen more Ttornadoes than any July on record.
In a statement released yesterday, the National Weather Service says it’s recorded 9 tornadoes statewide, 8 in Middle Tennessee.
Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.
State officials are reminding Tennesseans that wherever severe weather strikes, unscrupulous contracts are sure to follow.
Kevin Walters with the state's Department of Commerce and Insurance says if you’ve got damage that needs to be repaired, be on your guard.
"People should be wary of contractors who demand up-front payment before the work is initiated, or payment in full before the work is completed. If a contractor needs payment to buy the supplies, you should go with the contractor and pay the supplier directly. "
The state recommends asking for at least three references and getting more than one bid for repairs. You can also use the T-D-C-I's website to verify a contractor's license.
HERE IS A COPY OF THE WEATHER SERVICE STATEMENT ON JULY TORNADOES
000 NOUS44 KOHX 192220 PNSOHX TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-202230- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 520 PM CDT SUN JUL 19 2015 ......NINE TORNADOES IN TENNESSEE DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2015 SETS RECORD... THE OFFICIAL COUNTING OF TORNADOES IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE WEATHER BUREAU BEGAN IN 1916...BUT SERIOUS EFFORTS TO COUNT ALL TORNADOES DID NOT START UNTIL 1950. THIS JULY TENNESSEE HAS SEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF TORNADOES. EIGHT OF THE JULY TORNADOES STRUCK MIDDLE TENNESSEE WHILE ONE HIT IN EAST TENNESSEE WITH WEST TENNESSEE ESCAPING WITH NONE. THIS IS THE MOST EVER TO HIT TENNESSEE IN THE MONTH OF JULY SINCE OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPING BEGAN IN 1916. FORTUNATELY NO FATALITIES OCCURRED...AND IN FACT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TORNADO FATALITY IN THE MONTH OF JULY IN TENNESSEE. BELOW IS A LIST OF YEARS AND NUMBER OF TORNADOES IN THE MONTH OF JULY IN TENNESSEE. YEAR...NUMBER OF TORNADOES 2015...9 2014...4 2010...1 2009...2 2005...1 2000...1 1997...1 1990...1 1984...1 1980...4 1972...1 1971...1 1970...1 1967...2 1966...1 1964...1 1957...2 1956...2 1943...1 1936...2 1934...2 1920...1 $$ BOYD 01