1:25
- ABC News
- March 4, 2020
Tornadoes: 5 kids among dead in hard-hit town
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has declared a state of emergency.
1:25
One apartment complex was \"totally demolished,\" Porter said.
Annakate Ross told ABC News she sheltered with her family in a closet in their Nashville home.
Once the twister moved through, she opened the closet door to find that \"the windows were blown out, the doors had been blown open and our neighbor had been ejected from his back house apartment into our yard.\"
\"He survived,\" Ross said. \"He's doing great.\"
This is the damage around Catalpa Drive & Fescue Drive in Mt. Juliet. The area has been absolutely decimated. The cleanup has begun, but it’s going to be an incredibly long process. I’ll have more at 11 on @wkrn #NashvilleTornado #Nashville #MtJuliet #NashvilleStrong pic.twitter.com/SxKhPLoWQb
— Kristina Shalhoup (@kshalhoupwx) March 4, 2020
Nashville resident James Duncan said sirens started in the middle of the night before \"howling\" winds moved in.
\"Things started hitting the window, and my girlfriend and I shot out of bed and darted for the bathroom. We could hear objects slamming against the building ... it was terrifying,\" Duncan told ABC News. \"They say tornadoes sound like a train ... they were not lying. The feeling in my head from the pressure was insane. I've never felt anything like it.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/tornado-1-us-er-200304_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/tornadoes-destruction-cookeville-tennessee-ap-2003_hpMain_20200304-052429_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Evan Winsor told ABC News he saw lightning hit the telephone pole in his Nashville backyard, knocking out the power. The wind picked up and it started to rain and hail, so he rushed to the basement to take cover.
Winsor said his neighbors were \"in disbelief\" as they surveyed the toppled telephone poles and rubble in the street.
One neighborhood \"totally wiped out\" was Five Points, an \"iconic cultural hub in Nashville -- especially with the local music and food scene,\" Winsor said.
The Basement East live music venue was completely destroyed.
The Basement East was also hit by the #Tornado in East #Nashville @WKRN pic.twitter.com/OBNDQY8KdI
— Stassy Olmos (@StassyOlmosWKRN) March 3, 2020
A tough morning across the state of #Tennesse — we’re live from #Nashville @GMA pic.twitter.com/ttBUMRlEQL
— Rob Marciano (@RobMarciano) March 4, 2020
The twisters left planes decimated at the John C. Tune Airport in West Nashville. No one there was injured and crews from Nashville International Airport will help rebuild, said Doug Kreulen, Nashville International Airport president and CEO.
The team at @Fly_Nashville will rebuild our sister airport John C. Tune. Excellent response by all, tomorrow we start cleaning up. We can replace hangars and airplanes. Thankful no one was injured. pic.twitter.com/ZYBZgDjBd2
— Doug Kreulen (@DougKreulen) March 3, 2020
The JWN Terminal needs work and we’ll need new refueling trucks as well. pic.twitter.com/QPQqFiul6i
— Doug Kreulen (@DougKreulen) March 3, 2020
Decosta Jenkins, CEO of Nashville Electric Service, called this the \"most devastating storm of my career.\"
About 600 utility poles were broken, Jenkins said. As of Wednesday afternoon about 34,800 customers remained without power.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has declared a state of emergency as a result of the devastation. President Donald Trump said he plans to visit Tennessee on Friday.
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church at 10th Avenue N and Monroe Street in Nashville before and after the storms Monday night into Tuesday morning. pic.twitter.com/8ouIUVgS6Q
— Nickelle Smith (@NickelleReports) March 4, 2020
The National Guard has been deployed to help with search-and-rescue efforts.
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said Wednesday that crews still have to comb though about 40% of the rubble.
Despite the destruction, Winsor said the community is pulling together to help each other.
Crews are heading out in large groups for relief efforts in Putnam County— even school buses packed with volunteers. Everyone is in cleanup mode right now and focus is also on search and rescue for anyone still trapped in the rubble. @WJHL11 pic.twitter.com/UIJO87brub
— Ashley Sharp (@AshleySharpWJHL) March 4, 2020
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said the website for Nashville volunteer organization Hands On Nashville crashed three times Tuesday from so many people trying to sign up to volunteer.
Cooper said Google pledged $100,000 and that Amazon is donating supplies to community centers.
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