The death toll rose in the heart of Tennessee after two tornadoes touched down in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The tornadoes, one of which ripped across downtown Nashville, killed at least 19 people, Tennessee Emergency Management spokeswoman Maggie Hannan said after rescue crews spent hours pulling survivors and bodies from at least 40 collapsed buildings.
Just filmed a #tornado pass north of my building and just north of the state capital! Wow! pic.twitter.com/HUd40rvdsD
— Sam Shamburger (@shamnadoes) March 3, 2020
Incredible video of the #nashvilletornado from earlier this morning. ?️
Thank you Luke Stager for sending this from City View Apartments to @WKRN. pic.twitter.com/ttw0voAddW— Danielle Breezy (@DanielleBreezy) March 3, 2020
“Nashville is hurting, and our community has been devastated,” Mayor John Cooper said in a tweet. “Be sure to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, and let’s come together as a community once more.”
Nashville is hurting, and our community has been devastated. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones. Be sure to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, and let’s come together as a community once more. Together, we will get through this and come out stronger.
— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) March 3, 2020
Law enforcement officials directed people to stay indoors until at least daybreak Tuesday morning so that the damage can be accessed before people get hurt.
“Our community has been impacted significantly,” the Mt. Juliet Police Department tweeted, adding that homes were damaged and multiple injuries were reported. “We continue to search for injured. Stay home if you can.”
Our community has been impacted significantly. There are multiple homes damaged and multiple injuries. We have requested mutual aid from allied agencies. We continue to search for injured. Stay home if you can. Watch for downed power lines.
— Mt. Juliet Police (@MtJulietPolice) March 3, 2020
Voters in Tennessee are supposed to cast their ballots in the Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday as one of 14 states that will participate in Super Tuesday, but it’s unclear if the destruction from the tornadoes will affect voting in the counties surrounding Nashville.
