NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: General view of a mural on heavily damaged The Basement East in the East Nashville neighborhood on March 3, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. A tornado passed through Nashville just after midnight leaving a wake of damage in its path including two people killed in East Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
A pair of tornadoes touched down in Tennessee early Tuesday, reportedly killing at least 19 people and causing the collapse of roughly 40 buildings in downtown Nashville. “Last night was a reminder about how fragile life is,” Nashville Mayor John Cooper said at a Tuesday morning news conference.
The AP also reports, “One of the twisters caused severe damage across downtown Nashville, destroying the stained glass in a historic church and leaving hundreds of people homeless.” Authorities were asking residents to stay indoors due to hazards like snapped power lines and broken trees. Courts, schools and transit lines were closed for the day, while four Super Tuesday polling stations were relocated just hours before voting was set to begin.
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Storm damaged houses stand in portion on Underwood St. on March 3, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. A tornado passed through Nashville just after midnight leaving a wake of damage in its path including two people killed in East Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Toppled power lines and trees caused by one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight block a roadway on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least 19 people were killed and scores more injured in storms across the state that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Toppled power lines and trees caused by one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight block a roadway on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least eight people were killed and scores more injured in the storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Residents walk through downed utility lines and trees to survey damage caused by one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least eight people were killed and scores more injured in the storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Residents walk through downed utility lines and trees to survey damage caused by one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least eight people were killed and scores more injured in the storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Residents comb through the belongings in a home destroyed by high winds from one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least eight people were killed and scores more injured in the storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: A home is shown destroyed by high winds from one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least eight people were killed and scores more injured in the storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: A home is shown destroyed by high winds from one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least eight people were killed and scores more injured in the storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Lavern and Judy Hix survey their home, damaged by high winds from one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least 19 people were killed and scores more injured across the state in storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)COOKEVILLE, TN – MARCH 03: Crews work to clear roadways of debris caused by one of several tornadoes that tore through the state overnight on March 3, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee. At least 19 people were killed and scores more injured across the state in storms that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
