The McMinn County Sheriff's Office honored 23 deputies for their brave acts when an EF-2 tornado tore through the area on Nov. 30, 2016.
The tornado left almost two dozen people hurt, and damaged more than 200 buildings.
Lt. Eric Allman, Detective Jared Price, Deputy Jerry Wattenbarger, Corporal Brian Alexander and Auxiliary Deputy Brian McKinney all received plaques for heroism beyond the call of duty at a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.
Several other deputies received awards for distinguished acts of service beyond the call of duty. These deputies include Chief Deputy Matt Blair, Sgt. Tony Allman, Sgt. Danny Jones, Deputy Josh Hyde, Deputy Brian Greenlaw, Deputy Jason Lee, Sgt. Larry Moses, Corporal Paul Johnson, Deputy Todd Levi, Deputy John Amos, Deputy Jeremy Harrison, Corporal Kevin Gray, Corporal, Sarah Gray, Deputy Jason Bautsch, Sgt. Rick Clayton, Sgt. Doug Bailey, Deputy Bobby Jones and Deputy Burt Jenkins.
Deputy Wattenbarger said he was on patrol during the early morning hours of Nov. 30.
"It was raining, hailing, lightning, wind was blowing," he said.
Wattenbarger remembers receiving the initial call that there were several people hurt off Highway 307. He and other deputies asked to borrow a four-wheeler from a man along the way to be able to get through the blocked roads.
"It was scary, but I was focused," he said. "There were several houses that were leveled. I was just praying to God that there was nobody laying under that rubble."
Corporal Kevin Gray and his wife, Corporal Sarah Gray, were both at home when the tornado came through. After the storm passed, the two immediately went to work because they knew there was a need in the community.
"I said I don't care if I've got to walk 100 miles in the opposite direction," he said. "I mean, we'll get around them. We'll get in there, but we've got to get in and get these people out."
Gray and Wattenbarger said they both remember the urgency to help victims in the Deerfield Estates area since many roads were blocked and there were many other areas of town affected.
"We knew people were there hurt so we were the only means at that time to get to them to get them some help," Wattenbarger said.
During the ceremony Wednesday, Sheriff Joe Guy shared a story about Corporal Kevin Gray in which an officer from another law enforcement agency questioned Gray about risking his life when faced with crossing live power lines.
According to Guy, "Corporal Kevin Gray responded, 'I risk my life every day,' and with that reply, the officers stepped away back into the darkness to return to assist the injured people in Deerfield Estates."
Gray said he was just doing his job.
"It's just the spirit of a first responder," he said. "I mean whether you're a firefighter, EMT or a police officer, if you live that lifestyle and you have that feeling, it's just something you do."