NASHVILLE, TN – Middle Tennessee was brought to its knees on Saturday as a series of tornadoes wreaked havoc, resulting in the loss of at least six lives, including a minor, and leaving in excess of 160,000 residents without power. The storms left a trail of destruction, with vehicles overturned, trees uprooted, and homes and buildings torn apart.
The roof of the Big Play game center in Hendersonville was no match for the storm’s fury, collapsing under its force. The Community Baptist Church on Dickerson Pike in Nashville was reduced to rubble, its roof missing and vehicles tossed around the parking lot. The grim aftermath of the storm was laid bare on Sunday morning.
In a heartfelt statement, Montgomery County Mayor, Wes Golden, said, “This is a somber day for our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured, lost loved ones, and lost their homes. This community has an unparalleled spirit of unity and we will stand together until the end.”
Among the casualties were Joseph Dalton, 37, and Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, who lost their lives when Dalton’s mobile home was hurled onto Perez’s residence in Madison. Perez’s toddler son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, also perished in the storm. Two other children, Perez’s seven-year-old son and Dalton’s ten-year-old son, survived the storm and were taken to Vanderbilt Pediatrics with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The storm also triggered several explosions, knocked down church steeples, and resulted in severe flooding in Davidson County. Madison bore the brunt of the storm’s fury, with fallen trees, wrecked homes, and power lines scattered across roads.
In Hendersonville, the streets were engulfed in darkness, with businesses destroyed and power lines down on Main Street. The city’s police were inundated with calls from people trapped in structures, while the local medical center was forced to operate on emergency power as storm victims sought treatment.
In Clarksville, residents likened the sound of the incoming tornado to a train. The Garrettsburg Estates neighborhood was left in shambles, with one resident urging others to never disregard emergency alerts.