Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce aiming to replenish funds to help tornado victims

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Almost eight months have passed since a tornado significantly damaged Hendersonville. The Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help any impacted businesses, but that money is gone, even though the need is still there.

On Dec. 9, 2023, an EF-2 tornado tore over Brian’s Motorsports on Hendersonville’s West Main Street. The owner, Brian Hayes, and his wife built that business over more than two decades.

“Everyone starts calling, says, ‘Hey, you have no doors. You gotta hurry up and get back to the shop. There’s water everywhere,'” Hayes recalled.

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The shop’s AC unit was wiped out, doors were blown off, and a roof was left with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs, according to Hayes.

“We’re like most of the other businesses around here now, too — still fighting with insurance,” said Hayes. “We’re $235,000 for a complete roof when the insurance company wants to give us $30,000 to patch it.”

Brian’s Motorsports is back open, but like many of Hendersonville’s small businesses, they’re struggling months later to get back to the way things were. Some face additional costs to bring their buildings up to code, while others lost revenue staying closed for months.

“A lot of them are still holding on to hope,” said Zach Williams with the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce.

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According to Williams, the chamber raised $400,000 in partnership with the city to help the businesses, but that money has dried up.

“As quickly as we get it in, it goes out,” said Williams. “It’s empty right now.”

The chamber has a link on its webpage if you would like to donate, or you can simply be a loyal customer to local businesses.

“There’s businesses that are open right now that are openly struggling, and it’s important that we support them as a community in this area,” said Williams. “Go to the store, buy something; go to the restaurant, get something to eat.”

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Hayes remains optimistic that there are brighter days ahead and that the tornado won’t erase West Main Street, the heart and soul of the City by the Lake.

“We are Hendersonville. Say what you want to say, West Main Street is Hendersonville,” said Hayes.

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