Tornado Ravages East Nashville and Germantown Areas of Music City
What a scary night...
Residents of Nashville were in for a long night during the overnight hours of March 2 into March 3. A tornado whipped through the region at 1 a.m. CST, causing approximately 48 building collapses and at least nine fatalities.
WKRN reports that the areas hit hardest include Centennial Blvd and Briley Parkway in West Nashville, with damage reportedly at John C. Tune Airport. The East Nashville and Germantown neighborhoods, and areas along Briley Parkway, are also reporting heavy damage. Another neighborhood, Five Points, has severe damage with multiple buildings down.
According to Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean, forecasters believe the tornado to be an EF-3. EF-3 tornadoes can reportedly have winds between 136 and 165 mph and cause “severe damage,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center states.
As Nashville continues to assess the damage to the area, many country stars are checking in with fans to update them as to how they are doing. In an Instagram story post, Maren Morris, who is nine months pregnant, wrote “The tornado must have missed our block by an inch because we are alright but I am looking at the damage that has happened to our beautiful city. There are so many people in the streets helping already, though. Thinking of those who lost their loved ones + homes.”
“Nashville is hurting, and our community has been devastated,” Mayor John Cooper wrote on Twitter. “Be sure to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, and let’s come together as a community once more. Together, we will get through this and come out stronger.”
Following the storms, Metro Nashville schools were closed on Tuesday (3/3). The day also marks Super Tuesday, in which Tennessee is one of 14 states participating. WSMV reports that polling stations would open one hour later than normal, but would remain open for the full ten hours required.
Storm shelters:
- Centennial Sportsplex at 222 2th Avenue N.
- East Magnet High School at 110 Gallatin Ave.
- Victory Baptist Church at 1777 Tate Lane in Mt. Juliet
- Zeal Church at 5807 Charlotte Ave.
