NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Six people were killed and about two dozen were hospitalized in central Tennessee as severe storms swept through the region, causing significant damage to homes and businesses in multiple cities.
According to county officials, three individuals, including a child, lost their lives after an apparent tornado struck Montgomery County, north of Nashville near the Kentucky state line. At the same time, Nashville’s Emergency Operation Center reported three additional deaths from severe storms in a neighborhood just north of downtown. Twenty-three people were also treated for injuries at hospitals in Montgomery County.
The Clarksville fire department shared photos on social media showing houses with debris scattered across the lawns, a tractor-trailer flipped on its side on a highway, and insulation torn from building walls.
Mayor Joe Pitts of Clarksville expressed his devastation for the affected families, while the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the victims north of downtown. Joseph Dalton, 37; Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, and her son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2, lost their lives in the storm.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee extended his condolences, urging 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.
Over 80,000 electricity customers were without power in Tennessee on Saturday night, according to PowerOutage.us.
The storm came almost two years to the day after 41 tornadoes were recorded across multiple states, resulting in 81 deaths in Kentucky alone.
The Tennessee governor and officials in affected areas urged residents to stay home while first responders evaluated the situation, emphasizing the need for time and space to assess the extensive damage.