6 dead, state of emergency declared after severe weather
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that six people died when a wave of severe storms swept through the region Wednesday night.
Two people, a 69-year-old woman and 70-year old man, died in Perry County. A 22-year-old man Rhea County also died. A 19-year-old woman and two 22-year-old men were killed in Maury County, TEMA announced Thursday.
A Level III state of emergency was declared in response to the severe weather that pushed through the region Wednesday night.
Reports of tornadoes, strong winds and hail followed the line of storms.
Tornado victims recount survival in Middle Tennessee
The storms left reports of downed trees and debris. In Nashville, the storms left a trail of light damage, mostly just downed limbs, according to Metro spokesperson Michael Cass.
The most damage appears to be in southern Middle Tennessee in Wayne, Perry and Lawrence counties, about 100 miles south of Nashville.
Tornado damages 12 to 15 homes in McNairy County
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported damage in 11 counties.
A look at damage from around the region:
Robertson County
There was a lot of rotation that moved over Robertson County, but none of it touched the ground as strong storms marched through Middle Tennessee Wednesday night, EMA Director R.L. Douglas said.
"There have been zero reports of structural damage from anywhere in Robertson County as of 8 p.m.," Douglas said.
He added that he had just talked with officials from the National Weather Service at about 8 p.m. and was advised that the county would be completely clear of the severe weather in about an hour to an hour and a half.
Lightning damaged a small barn in the Coopertown area, on Mt. Zion Road earlier in the evening, but there were no other damage reports from elsewhere in the county, Douglas said.
About 575 people were without power in the Coopertown and Adams areas as of Wednesday evening, Douglas said.
Montgomery County
Despite a tornado warning, brief heavy rains, wind and lighting, Montgomery County "dodged a bullet" Wednesday night and the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center, officials said.
The biggest impact felt locally was that CEMC had 2,642 homes without power.
The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency monitored reports of hail and a possible tornado in Stewart County at 6 p.m. but the worst of the storm largely missed the Clarksville area.
Clarksville Police Department Steve Warren said, "We dodged a bullet," as the CEO prepared to close for the night.
Dickson County
Dickson County sustained a few downed trees and no major damage, according to Donnie Bear, emergency management director.
Cheatham County
Cheatham County also didn't see any damage, said Edwin Hogan, emergency management director.
Hickman County
In Hickman County, trees were reported down, blocking several county roads. No damage has been reported in Williamson County.
Wayne County
A tornado tore through the southern part of Wayne County, damaging homes, a church and collapsing a post office at 8310 Lutts Road, according a dispatcher with the Lutts Volunteer Fire Department.
No employees were inside the building at the time of the impact, and the Postal Inspection Service was dispatched to the area to secure the site, according to David Walton of the U.S. Postal Service.
Post Office Box customers can pick up their mail at the Collinwood Post Office, 101 4th Ave. South.
Reports also included some damage to homes in Collinwood.
Firefighters worked Wednesday night to respond to calls, and multiple agencies were dispatched across the county, according to other volunteer fire departments.
There were also reports of numerous injuries, but most were minor. The volunteer fire department also received reports of miles of trees leveled and firefighters worked to clear roads of debris and downed power lines.
Additional reports of damage
Dyer – Trees down between Dyersburg and Begota
Hardeman – Building damaged
Madison – Power lines down and two homes impacted
Martin – Home damaged
McNairy – 12 to 15 homes reported damaged
Sumner – Trees down and power lines damaged
Reporters Holly Meyer, Nicole Young and Stephanie Ingersoll contributed to this report.