Severe Weekend Storms Leave Central Tennessee Devastated
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Central Tennessee residents and emergency workers cleaned up Sunday from severe weekend storms that killed six people and sent more to the hospital while damaging buildings, turning over vehicles, and knocking out power to tens of thousands.
Apparent Tornado Strikes Montgomery County
Officials confirmed that three people, including a toddler, died after an apparent tornado struck Montgomery County 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Nashville near the Kentucky state line on Saturday afternoon. Some 23 people were treated for injuries at hospitals in the county, officials said in a news release.
Storms Claim Lives in Downtown Nashville
In a neighborhood just north of downtown Nashville, three people were killed Saturday as a result of the storms, the city’s Emergency Operation Center said in a social media post.
Widespread Damage and Power Outages
Photos posted by the Clarksville fire department on social media showed damaged houses with debris strewn in the lawns, a tractor-trailer flipped on its side on a highway, and insulation ripped out of building walls. Video footage from the Tennessee storms showed a ball of fire rising from behind a row of homes into the sky.
About 45,000 electricity customers were without power in Tennessee early Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us., down from more than 80,000 on Saturday night.
Previous Tornado History in the Region
Residents in the region are familiar with severe weather in late fall. Saturday’s storm came nearly two years to the day after the National Weather Service recorded 41 tornadoes through a handful of states, including 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. A total of 81 people died in Kentucky alone.
Victims Identified
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the victims killed north of downtown as Joseph Dalton, 37; Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31; and her son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2. Dalton was inside his mobile home when the storm tossed it on top of Perez’s residence. Two other children, one in each home, were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, the department said in a statement.
Community Support and Recovery Efforts
Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden expressed condolences and solidarity with the affected community, stating, “We are praying for those who are injured, lost loved ones, and lost their homes. This community pulls together like no other and we will be here until the end.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and his wife, Maria, also extended their prayers and urged everyone to follow guidance from local and state officials.
Surviving the Storm
Shanika Washington, a resident of Clarksville, shared her experience of seeking shelter with her children during the storm. She described the harrowing moments spent in a windowless bathroom in her basement, protecting her children from the destructive winds. After the storm passed, Washington witnessed the extent of the damage, including debris on cars, ripped roofs, and missing townhouse dividers.
Washington and her children sought refuge in a hotel due to the power outage in the area.
As the cleanup and recovery efforts continue, residents and officials are determined to rebuild and support one another in the face of this devastating natural disaster.
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Associated Press writer Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.
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