May 20, 2024
MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. — A series of late spring storms which spawned tornadoes, hail, high winds and flooding, swept across Tennessee on Wednesday and Thursday, May 8-9, leaving behind at least two known deaths, several injuries and thousands of people without electricity and extensive wind damage.
The storms affected nearly every region of the state from north to south and east to west, according to news reports from media outlets across Tennessee.
As reports of storm damage surfaced in the morning hours of May 8, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were among the first to respond.
Volunteers from Nolachucky Baptist Association DR, based in Morristown, responded to a macroburst (an outburst of strong winds at or near a surface) which took off the roof of Russellville Elementary School and left downed power lines and trees, according to Don Owen, DR director for the association.
The team cleared downed trees at two locations in Russellville. Later in the afternoon, another team responded to a call from Tazewell after a tornado touched down, killing a person when a tree fell on his car. Teams were scheduled to finish jobs in both Tazewell and Russellville on May 9, Owen reported.
Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said DR volunteers will begin assessing damages after daylight on May 9 and begin determining how to best respond and assist.
He noted storm damage is throughout the state, but the worst damage appears to be in Middle and East Tennessee.
“It’s hard to figure out where to start because the damage is so massive,” Jones said. He noted that the Maury County Emergency Management Association has asked DR teams to stay out until they can complete search and rescue operations.
Other storm-damaged areas include:
• WSMV-TV in Nashville reported an overnight windstorm damaged roofs, powerlines and trees in Lawrence County early Thursday morning, May 9. In addition, the station noted that flooding is occurring in Sumner and Rutherford counties.
• The Tennessean reported that one person is dead and four others injured after a tornado tore through Maury County on Wednesday, according to the Maury County Regional Hospital. Three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries while one is in serious condition.
• WATE-TV in Knoxville reported thousands were without power Wednesday as strong storms moved through East Tennessee. At one point, more the 3,000 Appalachian Electric Cooperative customers were without power. At 3 p.m., Appalachian Electric Cooperative reported 398 members were without power, with larger groupings of customers being without power near the Rutledge and Bean Station areas.
• Deron Henry, a staff pastor at First Baptist Church, Columbia, reported “there is major damage (reportedly) pretty close to me. As of this morning (May 9), officials are asking volunteers to stay away while they assess if there are any still missing. But that they will be asking for volunteers soon. I will keep you posted.”
• WKRN-TV reported tornadoes touched down in Robertson, Maury, Marshall, Rutherford, Giles and Lincoln counties.
• Rob Burdette, director of missions for Harvest Baptist Association in Robertson County, said the association is doing DR assessments. “We had flooding, but none of our churches were damaged,” he said.
• Matt Ledbetter, director of missions for Duck River Baptist Association reported that there were no major damages in the three counties covered by his association — Coffee, Franklin and Grundy counties.
• Joe Sorah, Harvest Field 5 team leader for the TBMB, said early reports from Harvest Field 5 directors of missions and pastors who were in the line of the storms indicate things “are pretty good. Some wind damage and rural flooding but overall okay so far. I’ve checked on some pastors and DOMs in HF6 and everything seems okay.”
• Jackson Ridge Baptist Church in Rockvale (Concord Baptist Association) had part of the roof on its fellowship hall torn off.
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This story first appeared in the Baptist and Reflector.
