Tornadoes were reported to have killed at least 22 people, including children, and destroyed around 140 buildings in Tennessee as violent storms rolled over the state late Monday and early Tuesday morning. The violent weather system threatened several states with severe weather all the way from Texas to North Carolina.
What We Know:
- A powerful and deadly storm moving through Middle Tennessee spawned a tornado that touched down in Nashville early Tuesday morning, cutting a swath of destruction that stretched through the city for miles. The Tennessean reported East Nashville, Donelson, and Mt. Juliet were all hit with an EF-3 tornado, but meteorologists say they’re not sure yet whether it was one or multiple tornadoes.
- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee had said “a number of people” are missing and many are injured. The governor, who declared a state of emergency for Tennessee, did not provide specific counts on injured or unaccounted-for individuals but have said that 30 rescue workers have suffered injuries.
- “It is heartbreaking,” Lee said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “We have had loss of life all across the state. Four different counties, as of this morning, had confirmed fatalities.”
Prayers for all of those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee. We will continue to monitor the developments. The Federal Government is with you all of the way during this difficult time. https://t.co/eZlA7Ahruj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2020
- President Donald Trump tweeted his support Tuesday morning: “Prayers for all of those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee. We will continue to monitor the developments. The Federal Government is with you all of the way during this difficult time.”
- According to the AP, this disaster also impacted voting in Tennessee, one of 14 Super Tuesday states. Some polling sites in Nashville were moved, and sites across Davidson and Wilson counties were opening an hour late but closing at similar times, Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced.
This Tuesday was the deadliest day for tornadoes in the US since, ironically enough March 3, 2019, according to the Storm Prediction Center. AccuWeather said that isolated tornadoes, damaging winds, and flash flooding will be possible across the southern U.S. through Thursday as severe storms track over the region.
