Nashville, Tenn. – Six people died and about two dozen were hospitalized after severe storms tore through central Tennessee on Saturday, causing destruction to homes and businesses in multiple cities.
Three people, including a child, were killed in an apparent tornado that struck Montgomery County north of Nashville near the Kentucky state line, according to county officials. An additional three people were killed by severe storms in a neighborhood just north of downtown Nashville, where 23 others were treated for injuries at local hospitals.
The storms left a trail of damaged houses, flipped over tractor trailers, and debris scattered across lawns, as shown in photos posted by the Clarksville fire department on social media. Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts expressed his condolences, stating, “This is devastating news and our hearts are broken for the families of those who lost loved ones. The city stands ready to help them in their time of grief.”
The victims killed north of downtown Nashville were identified as Joseph Dalton, 37; Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, and her son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2. Two other children were also injured and taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reported the tornado touched down around 2 p.m., and a shelter was set up at a local high school.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and his wife, Maria, expressed their condolences and urged residents to follow guidance from local and state officials. The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings in Tennessee and planned to survey an area where an apparent tornado hit in Kentucky. More than 80,000 electricity customers were without power in Tennessee on Saturday night, according to PowerOutage.us.
This storm comes nearly two years after 41 tornadoes were recorded in Tennessee and Kentucky, which resulted in the deaths of 81 people in Kentucky alone. The extent of damage caused by the recent storms is still being assessed.
Officials are urging residents to remain at home and avoid getting out on the roads to allow first responders to evaluate the situation. The impact of the severe storms has been significant, and the community is coming together to support those affected.