Tornadoes in Tennessee Kill 6, Including Toddler

TL/DR –

Six people were killed, including a toddler, and dozens more were injured after tornadoes hit Nashville and Clarksville in Tennessee. Among those killed were two-year-old Anthony Elmer Mendez, his mother Floridema Gabriel Perez, and Joseph Dalton. The tornadoes resulted in severe damage, causing power outages for more than 50,000 customers and the collapse of a church, which injured 13 people.

Six Fatalities in Nashville and Clarksville Tornadoes, Including a Toddler

A toddler was among the six fatalities during the tornadoes in Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee, leaving dozens injured.

The Nashville Police reported that two-year-old Anthony Elmer Mendez and his mother, Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, were among the victims. An additional casualty was 37-year-old Joseph Dalton. Perez’s other son and Dalton’s son, both minors, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Clarksville, located in Montgomery County, reported three victims, including a child. Michelle Newell, Montgomery County spokesperson, confirmed that an additional 23 were hospitalized from the same location.

Montgomery County’s Emergency Services Chief, Jimmie Edwards, reported that seven critically injured patients were transferred to Vanderbilt. He also responded to queries about the effectiveness of tornado sirens, asserting that periodic checks are routine.

Further, the Nashville Office of Emergency Management reported severe damage in the Nesbitt Lane area and urged residents to steer clear of this location and any downed power lines.

Thirteen people were injured due to a church collapse near downtown Nashville. A National Weather Service radar had previously detected a large and extremely dangerous tornado approximately 30 miles west of Nashville, moving eastward at 40 mph.

Pictures of the damage caused by the tornado in Clarksville were shared showing the extent of destruction. Nashville’s Mayor, Freddie O’Connell, declared a state of emergency following the disaster. He urged the public to avoid hard-hit areas, including Madison. Mayor O’Connell’s declaration followed a similar one by Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, who also imposed a 9 p.m. curfew for the weekend.

Over 50,000 utility customers across Tennessee were without power overnight, primarily in Middle Tennessee, according to poweroutage.us. The site indicated that more than 41,000 remained without power by the following morning.

Local officials continue to search for survivors, so these figures may change. Additional tornadoes were reported across Tennessee on Saturday, with significant damage in Gibson County and Weakley County. In Rutherford, a local fire station was destroyed.

Gibson County’s Fire Department confirmed additional damages to several structures. Governor Bill Lee expressed his concern and prayers for affected Tennesseans on Twitter. The National Weather Service confirmed at least one tornado in Clarksville. Images showcase structures reduced to twisted piles of wood and trees on the wet ground.

Other reported tornadoes are being considered as likely but have not yet been officially confirmed by the weather service. The tornadoes were the result of warm, wet Gulf Coast air meeting northern cold air and moving along a front heading east.

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