WARTBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Devastation struck eastern Tennessee as two tornadoes swept through, claiming the lives of a mother and daughter and injuring three others, authorities reported on Friday. The tragic incident occurred in the sparsely populated areas of Deer Lodge and Sunbright in Morgan County on Thursday night, as detailed in a social media post by the county’s emergency management agency.
The mother and daughter were tragically killed when the storm passed through their home, while further information on the injured individuals was not immediately available.
Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers were present at the scene on Friday morning to assist in securing damaged or destroyed structures, stated Capt. Stacey Heatherly in an email. There were no reports of missing persons at that time, Heatherly added.
Initial storm assessments conducted on Friday afternoon revealed that two tornados had impacted the region on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service office in Morristown. The tornado that hit Deer Lodge in Morgan County had peak winds of 135 mph (217 kph) and was classified as an EF2 tornado, signifying its significant intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The tornado in Thorn Hill in Grainger County had maximum winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was rated as an EF1 tornado.
Governor Bill Lee expressed his condolences on Friday, stating that he and his wife Maria were keeping those affected by the storm in their thoughts and prayers. The governor visited Morgan County on Friday to assess the damage firsthand, where he spoke with a man who suffered the loss of his daughter and home.
As the community grapples with the aftermath, the Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed their presence in Morgan County to ensure resident safety, assess structural damage, and provide assistance as needed. The Morgan County School District announced the closure of schools on Friday due to the significant tornado damage in parts of the county.
While the storm caused tree damage and structural destruction in the Thorn Hill area of Grainger County, fortunately no injuries or fatalities were reported there, according to county Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Atkins.
Thursday’s tornadoes struck nearly a year after a deadly tornado hit a northeast Tennessee region, including Morgan County. Emergency officials emphasized the challenge of night-time tornadoes in Tennessee, which pose difficulties in alerting the sleeping public to approaching storms.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency highlighted other storm-impacted counties, including Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Putnam, and Sevier. Meanwhile, warnings of severe weather persisted across the South on Friday, with flood alerts issued in Arkansas, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Cleanup efforts continued in Kentucky and West Virginia on Friday following flooding in low-lying areas triggered by severe thunderstorms on Thursday. Some waterways remained slightly above flood levels on Friday.
In data from the National Weather Service, Tennessee recorded 19 tornadoes resulting in one fatality last year, with a significant increase to 40 tornado
In February, snowfall increased across New England, causing hazardous road conditions with over 60 reported crashes on Maine highways. The Maine State Police had not documented any serious injuries by Thursday night. The heavy snowfall during rush hour exacerbated the treacherous state of roads statewide. Other states also experienced traffic disruptions, including a tractor-trailer overturning on the Massachusetts Turnpike, leading to significant backups. The New England states braced themselves for a potential recurrence of severe weather over the weekend, as an even stronger storm was forecasted to approach late Saturday into Sunday.
