Clarksville officials rally to disperse aid to families amid EF-3 tornado destruction

As the sun rose over Clarksville Sunday, the light revealed a swath of destruction as residents grappled with the aftermath of a tornado that pummeled the northern part of the city, killing three on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, residents hurried to basements in their homes or businesses, quickly seeking shelter as the winds became stronger, a tornado touching the ground with such force that it blew out windows and picked roofs off the top of houses like a toy.

Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency Sunday and by the end of the day, the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-3 tornado with winds of 150 mph hit north Clarksville.

The Madison/Hendersonville/Gallatin tornado received a preliminary rating of EF-2, with winds of 125 mph, according to NWS.

Lee traversed the rubble in Clarksville and Nashville, assessing the damage with his own eyes, before addressing those displaced and experiencing great loss during a press conference in Nashville Sunday evening.

The tornado demolished facades of buildings and homes, blew cars off the roads and picked trees from the ground by the roots in Clarksville. Some of the areas hit the hardest on the north side include Hand Estates near Garrettsburg Road and others.

Three people, including one child, are dead as a result of the tornado that touched down in Clarksville, while 62 people were treated at local hospitals for injuries. Nine people were transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center in critical or unstable condition, according Jimmie Edwards, Chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services.

"We have a lot fo families that are suffering," Edwards said.

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Officials address recovery efforts

Amid the rubble, Clarksville and Montgomery County officials updated the community on damages and joint recovery efforts at a 10:30 a.m. press conference at Northeast High School, also a makeshift shelter for those displaced.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden teared up during his address to listeners and media present.

"We are devastated by the catastrophic event that occurred yesterday afternoon," Golden said. "Our hearts go out to all of the families suffering from the enormous impact left in the wake of this tornado. It will take a lot of time, resources and us coming together to get through this difficult time."

"We've been on the ground, and we've seen first-hand neighbors helping neighbors. We've heard stories of combat medics getting out with their jump bags helping people in the middle of the night.

"Our community is strong. Our faith is strong. We will get through this together. Please pray for those affected," Golden said. "I've never been so proud to be mayor."

Hundreds of structures damaged

Homes range from slight damage to moderately damaged to heavily damaged and totally destroyed, Edwards said.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reported Sunday that Clarksville has 65 structures with minor damage, 339 with moderate damage and 271 with major damage, making them uninhabitable. There are at least 91 structures that are totally destroyed with the vast majority residential homes. Numbers are expected to rise as assessments continue.

Clarksville-Montgomery County school facilities suffered mostly minor damage, with West Creek Elementary School being the hardest-hit.

Help on the way to those in need

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said he and other city and county officials toured the affected neighborhoods Sunday morning in disbelief.

"Our priority first is to take care fir our people," Pitts said. "There is devastation everywhere. One thing I love about this city — when there is a need, we rally around that need."

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Despite her home being affected, a little girl named Ellie, Pitts said, sang "All I Want for Christmas" to the officials viewing the destruction.

"We appreciate Ellie uplifting us," Pitts said.

Pitts placed the city under a state of emergency and instituted a 9 p.m. curfew for the city on both Saturday and Sunday nights.

"We will be there to help until every last person get the help they need," he said.

Almost 100 Fort Campbell families displaced

City and county crews are working together to assess the destruction with 60 extra personnel on duty and are now conducting secondary searches, Fire and Rescue Chief Freddie Montgomery said.

Col. Christopher J. Midberry, Garrison Commander at Fort Campbell, said at the press conference almost 100 military families who live in Clarksville are displaced because of the tornado. Though he confirmed that the Fort Campbell base was not significantly damaged.

Officials did not release any further information about those killed during the tornado, explaining families are still being notified.

“This is devastating news and our hearts are broken for the families of those who lost loved ones. The City stands ready to help them in their time of grief,” Pitts said on Saturday when the city released the fatalities.

Middle Tennessee ravaged, six deaths

Three other deaths were confirmed in Madison in Davidson County after the storms moved through Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon.

Eleven Middle Tennessee counties had damages from the severe storms and tornadoes that battered the state on Saturday night.

Nine of those counties were likely hit by one or more of 13 tornadoes that moved through the region, according to preliminary data from Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Golden and Pitts assured the community that county, city and outside efforts and resources would be used to help those affected recover from the devastation.

Sounded like a train

Vincent Welshman was driving home to his wife and kids when he heard the tornado sirens sound off near his mom's house just a few blocks away.

A low howl quickly turned into what "sounded like a train going down some train tracks," he wrote in a message to The Tennessean.

The sky rapidly grew dark — so dark he could not see the tornado.

When the storm lifted, the Garrettsburg Estates neighborhood was shattered.

"My home was not damaged, thank God, but my neighbors and friends were not so lucky," he wrote. "... The message I want to send is to just never take these emergency bulletins lightly that pop up on our phones."

"This is a day nobody wanted or expected, but this is a day where our community shines," Pitts said.

Pitts, along with police, asked residents to stay home and off the roads to give first responders time and space to respond to emergency calls Saturday and Sunday.

"We know there's extensive damage throughout the communities," Pitts said. "We need to be able to take care of those families so desperately in need of help.

Mosaic Church and Northeast High School will act as shelters to those displaced. To volunteer help, please call 931-245-2988, Jimmy Settle city communications director said.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Clarksville officials disperse aid to families after EF-3 tornado