Tennessee tornado recovery complicated by freezing temps

Agencies across Middle Tennessee are assessing the full extent of Saturday’s deadly tornadoes and bracing for a difficult and lengthy recovery amid dangerously cold temperatures.

Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service indicate that several tornadoes touched down, killing six people and knocking out power for tens of thousands. Affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley and Wilson counties.

As of Sunday afternoon, the weather service had classified the Clarksville tornado as an EF-3 with winds of 150 mph.

At a news conference Sunday, Nashville Electric Service CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin said the utility had restored service to 18,000 customers, but 26,000 were still without power. And for some, that will remain the case for days.

Substations in Hendersonville and North Nashville sustained significant damage.

Viral videos from Saturday depict a Nashville tornado hitting something that could be an electrical substation. The impact triggered a massive, green-hued explosion.

“We do have reason to believe that could be our our equipment that was was videoed there,” Broyles-Aplin said. “That gives you a good idea of the extent of damage that we’re dealing with at some of these substations.

Because the damage is so extensive, she said she couldn’t give a clear timeline on restoration.

“But we do know that the outages in the … Hendersonville area will be prolonged,” she said.

She said it will likely be days, not hours.

In Clarksville, it could take even longer. Montgomery County Mayor Joe Pitts said during a press conference the Clarksville Department of Electricity is reporting ongoing outages. The utility’s website showed more than 12,000 customers were affected Sunday.

“This is a multiple-day event,” Pitts said. “It could be a couple of weeks before we get power restored.”

That could lead to dangerous conditions as the temperature is expected to plunge to 26 degrees Sunday night.

City officials — including Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell — advised those who need help to call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

“The number of people impacted who may be in their home, potentially — but not have power restored — will still be in a state where they may not have access to reliable heating,” he said during a Sunday press conference. “Having use of that Red Cross number is going to be particularly important.”

The Red Cross has also built an interactive map with shelter locations.

A shelter has been set up in Nashville at Isaac Litton Middle School, and the city said it would provide transportation to those who need it. Nashville Fire Department Chief William Swann said during the same press conference that 25 people were currently in the shelter, but he expected that number to increase.

Red Cross officials are also prepared to offer other vital support to those displaced by the storms, according to LoriAnne Tinajero, executive director of the Tennessee River Chapter of Red Cross.

“If you have been displaced or suffered through this tornado and you need prescriptions or you need medical supplies or oxygen, please go to the shelters and let them know. We are ready to support you in those efforts. Also, we do have spiritual care teams here and mental health care teams at all the shelters.”

Woke up today proud to live in the Volunteer State.

All through the night, people were offering to volunteer.

We’ll have more from @NashvilleVOAD and @HONashville today about how you can do so safely.

Thanks for being so willing to take care of each other. pic.twitter.com/rfdeFwHDua

— Freddie O’Connell (@freddieoconnell) December 10, 2023

So far, at least 22 buildings have completely collapsed, O’Connell said. “Countless” more have sustained significant damage.

Among other updates, city officials said:

• 19 patients were injured in Nashville;
• the fire department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team is accompanying residents into impacted areas to retrieve items;
• an abandoned barge has been found around the 214-mile marker on the Cumberland River, and;
• fuel has leaked from a 5,000-gallon diesel tank into Dry Creek next to the Cumberland River at 1201 Northgate Business Parkway

Swann warned residents to take extreme caution around buildings that incurred damage, and not to enter structures that could collapse. Swann said the storms also broke many gas mains. Additionally, leaders urged residents to stay away from downed power lines.

“We urge you to report any hazardous conditions to local authorities through 911,” Swann said.

More injuries reported in Montgomery County

In Clarksville, officials shared an updated injury total on Sunday, saying that 62 people were hospitalized.

At the shelter at Northeast High School, about 20 people were receiving help as of Sunday morning, but more were expected as temperatures drop.

Among them was Gina Dalton, a resident of the Tylertown subdivision, who rode out the tornado in her car.

“I was holding onto the handle. And I was thinking the car is about to lift, and I could feel the car lifting up. So, I was about to jump out, and then it passed. So it was that quick,” she said.

Dalton said the windows to her home were all blown out and the fence in her backyard was destroyed. Some of her neighbors were hit even harder, losing the roofs of their homes.

Tammy Davis had to leave her home due to a nearby gas leak, and said a relative had a headache because of the smell.

“The police were coming through the neighborhood … and all you smelled was gas,” she said. “Like a gas station.”

Davis says the deck connected to the back of her home collapsed, and storage units and sheds she had in the backyard are now gone. Some of her neighbors had their cars flipped over from the winds.

Clarksville State Rep. Jeff Burkhart said he surveyed damage and found it worse than the storm that hit downtown Clarksville in 1999.

“This one is way worse than that one was … more widespread, lots of homes, lots of businesses are affected this time and of course, we lost three lives this time,” Burkhart said. “That, in itself, is just a major blow.”

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said he has seen neighbors helping neighbors.

“I grew up here, and it’s just devastating,” Pitts said. “We’re no stranger to disasters. But one thing I do know this city is resilient, and when there is a need, we respond.”

Schools in the area will be closed starting Monday, Dec. 11 and Tuesday, Dec. 12, according to the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. An online statement says district offices will also be closed to the public so that personnel can be available to assist in other areas. School officials are assessing campuses and bus routes and will update families about plans for the rest of the week, including plans for high school exams.

This is a developing story that was last updated at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday.