3 dead, State of Emergency declared following severe weather in Davidson County, Sumner County
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Three people in Davidson County are dead — including a toddler –and a State of Emergency has been declared in multiple localities after severe weather rolled through the area Saturday afternoon.
The Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) said three people died in the area of Nesbitt Lane in Madison on Saturday, Dec. 9.
The Metro Nashville Police Department identified the victims as 37-year-old Joseph Dalton; 31-year-old Floridema Gabriel Perez; and Perez’s son, 2-year-old Anthony Elmer Mendez. Dalton was inside his mobile home on Nesbitt Lane when the storm forced the mobile home to roll on top of Perez’s home.
Perez’s 7-year-old son and Dalton’s 10-year-old son were both inside their respective homes at the time of the incident, according to officials. They were both transported to Vanderbilt Pediatrics with non-life-threatening injuries.
WATCH: Tornado moving through Davidson County caught on camera
Mayor Freddie O’Connell declared a State of Emergency for Metro Nashville and Davidson County, allowing the locality to obtain state and federal resources to help in the storm’s aftermath. O’Connell will join other local officials and first responders for a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10.
News 2’s Chris O’Brien drove through the Madison area and found downed powerlines, trees on houses, and lots of debris scattered about on Nesbitt Lane.
Areas in the northeast portion of Davidson County appeared to be the most affected, while Hendersonville and Gallatin appear to also have sustained heavy damage.
“National Weather Service Radar confirmed a large and extremely dangerous tornado located near Whites Bluff, moving East at 40 mph. This was considered a particularly dangerous situation,” the Nashville OEM said in a statement shortly after 10:15 p.m. “Right now the Madison area appears to be the hardest hit. Initial reports included a building collapse at the Community Church at 3838 Dickerson Pike with occupants. 13 survivors were transported to nearby hospitals. The patients were last listed in Stable Condition.”
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News 2 Meteorologist Meaghan Thomas drove around the Old Hickory area and found a crash at the intersection of Myatt Drive and Old Hickory Boulevard. Power was knocked out of the area and disabled all traffic signals.
A roof was found ripped off a business off Gallatin Pike near Old Shackle Road. An SUV with severe front damage was also seen near the fallen roof.
The Metro Nashville Police Department said multiple power lines/poles are down along the area of Gallatin Pike North and Old Hickory Boulevard. Meanwhile, officers are closing roads for areas impacted by the storms in Madison and North Nashville.
In addition to the three deaths reported along Nesbitt Lane in Madison, police said multiple people were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. Urban Search & Rescue is also helping the Nashville Fire Department with response efforts, including searching compromised structures and looking for people who may be trapped.
The Nashville OEM said it is partially activating the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) to coordinate resources to for the severe weather. Representatives from various Metro Nashville departments are meeting in EOC to coordinate response and resources. The partial activation will remain in place until the severe weather has stabilized.
The American Red Cross said it is managing a shelter in Nashville at Isaac Litton Middle School along Hedgewood Drive. However, Nashville OEM said Red Cross’ shelter is supposed to open at the Isaac Litton Alumni Center on Gallatin Pike by 2 a.m. on Sunday, ready to accommodate displaced individuals and families, including their pets.
Tens of thousands without power after severe weather rolls through Middle Tennessee
Nashville officials shared additional details from various agencies Saturday night:
Metro Water Services:
Both water treatment plants are on generator power and reporting no issues.
The Dry Creek wastewater treatment plant sustained minor damage to the buildings and lost power, so the UV disinfecting system is operating on generator power.
Eleven pumping stations in the Madison/Old Hickory area are without power from Nashville Electric Service (NES), but six of those locations are being powered by onsite generators. In addition, portable generators will be dispatched.
General Services is assessing Metro properties in the impacted areas.
The Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) has multiple assessment crews out checking roadways and mobilized three six-man “knuckleboom” crews.
NES is reporting nearly 35,000 customers without power due to 176 active events.
T-Mobile said cell services will be disrupted at times, but this shouldn’t affect 911 services.
The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) Nashville Division is coordinating response efforts to assist survivors in the community.
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Over in Sumner County, the City of Gallatin proclaimed a State of Emergency late Saturday night because of the severe weather, according to a statement News 2 received:
WHEREAS, The 2023 Gallatin Tornado in Sumner County has produced a situation either man made, technological, or a natural occurring emergency event which occurred at 4:50pm on December 9, 2023 in the city of Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee and,
WHEREAS, this emergency has resulted in local jurisdictional resources being fully deployed and becoming or have become overwhelmed and/or has caused a dramatic impact on the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens and,
WHEREAS, the county emergency operations plan has been activated to coordinate and facilitate effective response and recovery actions.
THEREFORE, in the interest of public safety and welfare, I Paige Brown, Mayor of Gallatin, TN, do hereby declare, pursuant to the statues of the State of Tennessee TCA 58-2-110, TCA that a state of emergency currently exists in Gallatin, Sumner County TN, as of this date and time.
City of Gallatin – Office of the Mayor
Two people suffered minor injuries in Hendersonville after the roof of Big Play collapsed, according to police officers on scene. Big Play is an arcade located in the 400 block of W. Main Street.
News 2’s Blake Eason found significant damage at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Gallatin. According to the store manager, three people were inside when a tornado came through, but they are all safe.
Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown said both Gallatin and Hendersonville sustained significant damage due to tornadoes. Residents are asked to stay off the roads to allow first responders and utility crews to do their jobs.
Brown also said, per Sumner County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), no deaths or life-threatening injuries have been reported at this time.
The Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department said it has sent Engine Company 9 with five personnel and Rescue Company 1 with four personnel to Gallatin to help with recovery efforts.
1 child, 2 adults dead; State of Emergency declared in Clarksville after tornado activity
Red Cross said it is managing a Hendersonville shelter at Beech High School on Long Hollow Pike.
The Mt. Juliet Police Department said it sent a dedicated team of officers to Sumner County to help with rescue and response efforts.
Sumner County residents who may have lost a pet due to the storms should send pictures and contact information to Sumner County Animal Control on Facebook.
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