Photo via CNN
Multiple tornadoes touched ground in Tennessee on Saturday, December 9th. They have already killed at least 6 people and have injured over 50. Thousands of people have been displaced after the storms caused power outages and tore through homes. First responders are doing their best to help the victims and repair their community as bad weather persists.
These tornadoes were caused by multiple storms traveling along the East Coast. These powerful storms generate strong winds that quickly grow out of control. These gusts of wind are able to travel at anywhere between 50-150 mph. This gives them the power to transform into the destructive tornadoes that tear through houses, businesses, and powerlines. As objects are picked up and thrown around by these strong winds, the risk of injury increases. Tornadoes are measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, where 0 is the least destructive and 5 is the most destructive. Most of the tornadoes that struck Tennessee on Saturday were around the severe EF2- EF3 range.
On Saturday night, three people were reported dead after a tornado with winds of 150 mph and EF3 intensity tore through Clarkesville on an 11-mile path. In Madison that same night, three more people were confirmed dead. The tornado that caused destruction in Madison had winds up to 125 mph and an intensity of EF2. Over 60 people were also severely injured and rushed to local hospitals to be treated. The mayor of Clarkesville was forced to declare their town in a state of emergency after being hit the hardest.
Even more people were affected by the power outages that the tornadoes caused. Over 35,000 reports were made from homes and businesses that had no electricity on Sunday. At least 50 people had their homes entirely torn up, leaving them displaced. At least 114 residential sites were reported to be completely destroyed, while another 290 had major damages that were considered “uninhabitable.” Most of these structures were residences, and those who lived there went to family members or shelters. Homes were found without roofs and walls, as well as cars and trucks thrown to their sides and destroyed.
Photo via CNN
Over 400 calls were made to emergency services and first responders that night, the Nashville Fire Department reported. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is doing its best to help the citizens in this time of crisis. Over 18,000 homes that lost power have already had it restored, but more severely affected areas like North Nashville and Hendersonville still do not know when they will have power again.
Schools in many counties were closed on Monday and Tuesday following the storms. Rescue teams searched every affected area, pulling people out of rubble and bringing them to safety. Rescue teams had food trucks and mobile shower units set up for any affected citizens who needed them. Citizens are advised to stay out of the affected areas as recovery teams work to clean and repair what they can.
This isn’t the end of the bad weather, as more storms are traveling along the East Coast over the next week. Other states like Florida and Delaware will also experience strong winds and possible tornadoes. Residents are preparing for it after seeing how destructive they were in Tennessee.