One year after an EF2 tornado carved a path through Morgan County, daily life in Deer Lodge and surrounding communities is still a work in progress. The late-winter storm destroyed homes and outbuildings, killed two people and injured others, and local officials say recovery has moved in fits and starts. Volunteers and small nonprofits have shouldered most of the rebuilding, while many families are still waiting on permanent repairs.
Official damage assessment
A survey by the National Weather Service found the Deer Lodge tornado reached EF2 strength with estimated peak winds near 135 mph and a damage track of roughly 14 miles, and it recorded two fatalities and multiple injuries, according to the National Weather Service. Investigators reported that the storm destroyed at least two manufactured homes, damaged barns and other outbuildings, and snapped large stretches of trees along its path. Those findings became the baseline for state and county damage records that guide long-term recovery plans.
Who stepped in to help
In the immediate aftermath, faith groups, neighbors, and volunteer crews fanned out to clear debris, tarp roofs, and deliver food and basic supplies. The Morgan-Scott Project, which operates a thrift store and coordinates volunteer work crews out of Deer Lodge, says it helped dozens of households with cleanup and essential repairs in the months after the tornado, according to the Morgan-Scott Project. That homegrown response remains the backbone of rebuilding in the hardest-hit corners of the county.
County leaders: 'Never going to be the same'
Morgan County Executive Brian Langley told WATE 6 On Your Side that the community "was hit hard" and that some parts of the county will never fully return to what they were before the storm. Langley said the county did not receive federal disaster funding after the February 2025 storms, and he pointed to the limits of small-town recovery budgets when major damage hits. To mark the anniversary, local leaders placed a memorial plaque bearing the names of the two victims at the Morgan County courthouse, Langley told reporters.
Names behind the numbers
The tornado claimed the lives of Wendy Smith, 45, and her daughter Felicia Williams, 22, losses that left a tight-knit rural community reeling and spurred local fundraisers for the family. Their story and the family's grief were featured in local coverage by WVLT. Obituary notices posted by Schubert Funeral Home helped neighbors and friends rally support. A GoFundMe set up for the family raised tens of thousands of dollars to help with funeral expenses and rebuilding costs.
What recovery looks like now
"Many homes are 100% back, some missing small outbuildings, a few families rebuilding, and a few still in dire need," Morgan-Scott Project Executive Director Crystal Tompkins told WATE 6 On Your Side. Volunteer crews are still focused on roofs, weatherproofing, and restoring basic utilities while families juggle insurance claims, contractor schedules, and permits. The uneven pace is a reminder that in rural areas, the speed of recovery often depends less on big outside checks and more on who has the time, tools, and trucks to show up.
Why the recovery is uneven
Small counties often fall short of the thresholds needed to unlock federal disaster aid, which can leave rural residents relying heavily on churches, hometown charities, and volunteer groups. Reporting on a similar East Tennessee community highlighted how state and federal criteria have kept some towns from qualifying for certain forms of assistance, forcing a deeper dependence on local nonprofits, according to a report on tornado survivors turned toward nonprofits. County officials and organizers say that same reality has shaped Morgan County's long-term rebuilding picture.
As the anniversary passes, leaders and volunteers are quick to point out that the work is not finished. Some roofs still need sealing, insurance and aid paperwork remain in limbo, and a few families are still in temporary housing. For those who want to help, the Morgan-Scott Project keeps volunteer and donation information updated on its website, and a local fundraiser for the Smith family remains active. Visit the Morgan-Scott Project or the family's GoFundMe for details.
