Dozens of victims, ruined homes, and power outages: disastrous effects of a Tennessee tornado

After a powerful and rapid storm, hit tennessee early in the morning of March 3, along with a tornado at a speed of 165 mph (265 km / h), at least 24 people were declared dead, including 5 children under the age of 13, writes USA Today.

Photo: Shutterstock

A nightly disaster damaged or destroyed homes, businesses, schools and churches in four districts. Tens of thousands of people and businesses are left without electricity as of Wednesday morning, March 4th.

Among the dead were at least five children from Putnam County, where the worst casualties occurred. Three of them were under 5 years old, and two others were under 5. At least 13 people were killed in the area and 18 were injured - two of them in a twister - 88 miles west of Cookeville. The fate of another 2 is still unknown.

It was difficult for officials to track the death toll; on the evening of March 3, they revised the number of victims from 25 to 24 after authorities said they missed one death, which was later identified as unrelated to the storm.

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

In Nashville, two victims have been confirmed so far: 36-year-old Michael Dolphini and 33-year-old Albry Sexton, they died at the exit from the office where Dolphini worked. Three people were killed by the elements in Wilson County: 84-year-old James Eaton, 81-year-old Donna Eaton, 38-year-old Brandy Barker. Eaton was killed at home, and Barker died while working.

In Benton County, the 67-year-old Karl Frezi died of his injuries when a storm raised his mobile home and threw it across Bethel Chapel Road, northeast of Camden.

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Authorities said at a news conference on Wednesday that the number of missing people had dropped significantly, from 88 to 22.

According to representatives of the fire service, at least 48 structures collapsed in Nashville. The windows burst and crumbled, and power lines were damaged in the area from Germantown, north of downtown, east Nashville, and east to Mount Juliet.

Drone video showed storm damage in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, which is located east of Nashville.

A deadly tornado struck the Nashville area in the early hours of Tuesday. https://t.co/SPsh3yBf8p pic.twitter.com/P1QHkNRm64

- NBC News (@NBCNews) March 3, 2020

Jason Nash was stuck in a crane 375 feet high, staring down the tornado that was coming through Nashville. ? #tnwx pic.twitter.com/MhH5OX1Qpc

- Chad (@ChadBlue_) March 4, 2020

The search is expected to begin again on March 4. Rescuers are particularly worried that a swampy field strewn with debris after a tornado is in the way of search crews. It may take weeks for some areas of the county to become accessible again.

Curfew from 8:00 to 20:00 is still in effect, and local schools are closed until the end of the week.

A preliminary study showed that the tornado east of Nashville was of the EF-3 category on the Fujita scale, meaning the wind speed reached 160 mph. The tornado was the third to break through downtown Nashville. According to the National Meteorological Service, in 1933 and 1998 two powerful tornadoes took place in the city.

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AccuWeather prediction service predicts that March will be an “active month for tornadoes,” predicting a doubling of the number of such storms on average to 75 per month.

"With warm weather in March this year, it could be more like April or May when it comes to tornadoes," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

On average, about 40 people die each year due to tornadoes in 9 states in the southeastern United States. In Alabama, the largest number of deaths is annually, an average of 14 people, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Prayers go to the dozens of victims of the deadly tornado in Nashville this morning. ?

we are all #nashvillestrong today! pic.twitter.com/gzTeOFy1mf

- Big Dan Rodimer for Congress-Nevada's 3rd District (@DanRodimer) March 3, 2020

WATCH: Reporter describes the harrowing moment a tornado hits CBS affiliate WTVF in Nashville. "This is the inside of the tornado right now." https://t.co/0cgp7ZMhzQ pic.twitter.com/DXUrqNvPMv

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 3, 2020

How to help tornado victims

There are several ways to help the victims of the storm: it can be a donation to organizations, donating blood and volunteering to clean up territories, writes Tennessean.

• Hands on nashville

City Hall and Hands on Nashville are organizing volunteer days next weekend, March 7th and 8th, in areas affected by tornadoes on average Tennessee. Interested volunteers can book weekends at www.hon.org. Shifts will take place from 9:00 to 13:00, as well as from 13:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday, but places and other nuances have not yet been announced.

• Community foundation

The Mid-Tennessee Community Fund has created a donation site to support tornado-affected communities. An emergency response fund opened early in the morning of March 3, providing grants to nonprofits that help victims meet current and long-term needs.

For donations, you can visit cfmt.org/story/middle-tennessee-emergency-response-fund.

• Community resource center

The Community Resource Center at 218 Omohundro Place accepts donations of items other than clothing. Most essential items include personal care products, cleaning products, trash bags, gloves and scissors. Find more information at www.crcnashville.org.

• Convention and Visitors Corp.

Convention and Visitors Corp. is accepting donations for families hit hard by the tornado and has made a $10 donation to establish the fund. You can help via Venmo or PayPal at [email protected] or by check to Music City Inc. Foundation. at One Nashville Place, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite G-250, Nashville, TN 37219.

• United way

United Way of Greater Nashville is working with the Emergency Management Agency and partner agencies to provide updated information to community members through a 2-1-1 resource and help line. People can learn about emergency shelters, food pantries, and related services. The team also works with a foundation that provides long-term disaster recovery and support for victims. The organization will work with the local American Red Cross to distribute money. For a donation, visit http://igfn.us/f/2oz0/n. To help on your mobile, you can send SMS RELIEF2020 to 41444.

• Legal aid

Residents of Nashville and Middle Tennessee may face serious questions about their legal rights as disaster victims. Mid Tennessee Legal Aid Society offers free legal aid in several courses.

Another view of the volunteers that have arrived to help with tornado cleanup and rescue pic.twitter.com/tbfBGaasSU

- Shelley Mays (@TNPhotoShelleyM) March 4, 2020

• Red Cross

A spokeswoman for the Red Cross said four emergency shelters were opened for tornado victims.

• airbnb

Airbnb has stepped up its Open Houses program in and around Nashville to help those who have had to relocate because of a tornado. The program brings together Airbnb home and apartment owners who want and can provide free housing for displaced residents and disaster relief workers in the activation zone. The Open Homes program is available through March 24 in Nashville and surrounding areas, including Benton, Carroll, Davidson, Wilson, Putnam and Gibson counties.

• Food Bank Second Harvest

Second Harvest said it was working to ensure that victims had the opportunity to get food. Each donated dollar will provide four meals a day to people, the food bank said. To donate, you can visit www.secondharvestmidtn.org/donate-now.

• Anderson design group

Anderson Design Group has created fundraising posters for tornado victims. From today until March 31, they will donate 50% of the profits from the sales of five Nashville-oriented posters to Hands on Nashville and the Nashville Community Foundation. 10 years ago, a design company raised more than $ 30 for similar posters.

• U-Haul

U-Haul offers 30 days of free storage for residents affected by tornadoes and severe storms. U-Haul of Nashville has provided three repositories for disaster relief. Location: 3741 Annex Ave., 615-356-2550; 506 Fesslers Lane, 615-736-5231; and 14535 Lebanon Road, 615-754-6246.

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