A small tornado was substantial enough to cause significant damage to a downtown New Tazewell mainstay and other businesses last Friday night.

The National Weather Service in Morristown later confirmed the storm was an EF-0 tornado with estimated winds of 85 mph. The tornado had a path length of 1.52 miles and a maximum width of 75 yards.

That sustained wind is just shy of the tornado category of EF1, which would have required sustained 3 second gusts of 86 to 110 miles per hour according to the Enhanced Fujita scale published by the NWS.

The twister tore away walls and roofing of the Duncan Lumber Company and videos taken by bystanders showed swirling debris over the skies of the Claiborne County city.

According to Facebook posts by the company, they worked hard with help from the community and were open 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

The longtime New Tazewell business said a temporary sales office has been established in their First Avenue Hall while cleanup and recovery efforts continue. The company said only items stored in the back warehouse will currently be available and hardware sales remain suspended.

Company officials thanked contractors, volunteers and community members who assisted with cleanup efforts and noted no injuries were reported.

“We may be limping a little right now, but we are still here — and we aren’t going anywhere,” the company wrote.

County emergency officials responded Friday, May 22, to storm damage in the New Tazewell area after severe weather damaged several buildings downtown.

According to the Claiborne County Emergency Management Agency, residents were asked to avoid the Main Street and Front Street areas while crews completed damage assessments and cleared hazards.

No injuries were reported. Emergency officials urged residents to use caution around debris and downed power lines and to give emergency crews space to work.