Table of Contents
Albeit on a limited, part-time basis, family-owned Duncan Lumber, New Tazewell, Tn., reopened its doors four days after a May 22 tornado devastated its main retail building.
Two buildings were destroyed and two others damaged. Owner Andy Duncan plans to rebuild the 117-year-old business, to continue supporting the community through the next generation of Duncans.
The EF-0 tornado touched down for four minutes, carving a path right through the yard. No injuries were sustained; the final worker had left for the day about 20 minutes before the twister hit.
“It hit behind the building, came through the building and went out the front wall—blew it out on the street,” Duncan told the Claiborne County News. “This is the main building that has all the retail of Duncan Lumber. It’s got a lot of damage. The front showroom is pretty much ruined, the ceiling is down, half of it, the back part back here, about 30% of it is bad.”
