A massive tornado ripped through Nashville, Tennessee, overnight, killing at least 21 people, decimating acres of land in some of the city’s eastern suburbs and nearby counties, and “leaving hundreds displaced from their homes and dozens of buildings damaged or destroyed,” according to local media.
Severe storms moved through middle Tennessee overnight, spawning a series of tornados that blasted through the city’s downtown area, ripping through Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. One large tornado was responsible for much of the damage.
They need your prayers in Nashville, Tennessee,” Fox News’ Janice Dean said during the network’s morning forecast.” “This was an overnight, rain-wrapped tornado while people were sleeping and now they are waking up to extreme destruction, devastation and deaths in the Nashville area.”
Nashville is hurting, and our community has been devastated,” Nashville mayor John Cooper said in a statement released to media early Tuesday. “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. I am currently working with those at the Emergency Operations Center and receiving regular updates and damage assessment reports. I am also working closely with federal contacts on all recovery assistance options. A more comprehensive media update is coming up this morning.”
At the moment, authorities are working diligently to locate and rescue survivors and direct those left homeless to shelters.
“There are multiple homes damaged and multiple injuries. We have requested mutual aid from allied agencies. We continue to search for injured,” one local law enforcement agency said on social media.
The tornados took local residents by surprise, with some telling local media that they had little to no warning of the coming danger.
“It just woke you out of your sleep,” one victim, whose home was destroyed, told the local Fox affiliate. “I’m lucky my side didn’t get torn off. The other side is totally torn off.”
“When you’re inside it’s one thing, but to walk outside and see this it’s bad,” she added.
Shocking photos and videos of the damage were quickly uploaded to social media.
Homes wrecked as Nashville wakes to aftermath of deadly tornadoes. https://t.co/oiKGYE9AkW pic.twitter.com/WSGgpPYR4v
— ABC News (@ABC) March 3, 2020
One of our helicopters just landed after surveying tornado destruction from overnight. pic.twitter.com/XmBpbOmBuf
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 3, 2020
Prayers to Nashville pic.twitter.com/dGMQvxCY8p
— Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) March 3, 2020
President Donald Trump noted on social media Tuesday that he is monitoring the situation on the ground in Nashville.
“Prayers for all of those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee,” Trump tweeted. “We will continue to monitor the developments. The Federal Government is with you all of the way during this difficult time.”
The White House announced early Tuesday afternoon that the president will make a visit to affected areas later this week.
Tennessee is one of over a dozen states casting ballots in today’s “Super Tuesday” primaries and Nashville authorities are making efforts to help those who want to cast a ballot in the Democratic primary.
“Davidson County polling locations will be opening an hour later than planned, per Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett,” according to Nashville Scene. The Secretary of State is also opening additional polling locations for those displaced by the tornados and allowing those individuals whose polling locations were impacted by the storm vote at other locations.