Series of tornados kills 24, injures 221 in Tennessee
Bill Lee, the governor of Tennessee, confirmed the death of 24 people following a series of tornados across middle Tennessee. The storm destroyed 50 buildings across the state. According to the officials, 156 people were taken to the hospital in Davidson County on Tuesday morning. Lee said that the fatalities were reported across four counties in Middle Tennessee.
John Cooper, the mayor of Nashville, said that it was a massive act of nature. Cooper added that the storm destroyed their community. The first tornado hit just north of Nashville at around 1:00 am and damaged several areas of town. According to the officials, the tornados killed two people in the Nashville area and injured 20 people. The National Weather Service reported that the wind speed of 155-160 MPH was recorded in Davidson County and Wilson County.
Nashville Fire Department reported that they received the reports about the collapse of at least 40 structures across the City. According to the authorities, the hardest effects of the storm were recorded in the Germantown neighborhood. The officials said that hundreds of people would be displaced due to the structural damages left by the storm.
The tornados devastated the electricity system as 45800 electricity customers are without power in Nashville. The Hermitage area of the city was affected badly in terms of power supply. Cooper said that the officials would be able to access the complete damage in the daylight. It was hard for the authorities to work in the powerless area at night. The storm also resulted in gas and ammonia leaks around the city.
Cooper tweeted, “Nashville is hurting, and our community has been devastated.” People were compelled to displace and find a shelter due to the huge structural damages caused by the series of tornados. Cooper added, “I am currently working with those at the Emergency Operations Center and receiving regular updates and damage assessment reports.”
