‘Felt like a train hit’: Tornadoes kill at least 25 in Tennessee

Tornadoes that hit the southern US city of Nashville and surrounding areas have left at least 25 dead and many more missing or homeless, Tennessee’s governor said on Tuesday.

At least 17 of those who died were from Cookeville, which is about 80 miles (129km) east of Nashville, Tennessee. The death toll included children, officials said.

The tornadoes hit overnight, levelling streets, smashing glass, ripping off roofs, destroying homes, downing power lines and leaving debris in its wake, prompting Governor Bill Lee to declare a state of emergency.

In a news conference earlier on Tuesday, Nashville Mayor John Cooper opened by saying that “last night is a reminder of how fragile life is.”

Across social media, those who witnessed the tornado and its destruction posted videos and photos, relaying harrowing scenes and stories. Schools, courts, roads and the state legislature closed today, and some voters in the area participating in Super Tuesday’s primary were redirected to other polling stations after their original locations were damaged. Many voters said they were undeterred.

East Nashville isn’t letting a tornado stop us from participating in our democracy. What’s your excuse? #nashvillestrong pic.twitter.com/JlcFyLGu01

— Lisaynne Will Vote (@Lisaynne) March 3, 2020

Blakeley Galbraith was in her fourth-floor apartment when meteorologists began reporting that tornadoes had touched down elsewhere.

“We knew severe weather was coming, we just didn’t know the extent of it,” Galbraith told Al Jazeera by phone. “And then, it just hit and got loud and felt like a train hit our building. And that’s when we just grabbed all our stuff and got into a closet.”

Here are more images from our apartment, Vista Germantown, that my friend Annie Pfeifer took. #nashvilletornado pic.twitter.com/QYV1RuvGLi

— Blakeley (@BlakeleyGal) March 3, 2020

She said the impact did not last long – maybe 10 to 15 seconds – and then it “got really quiet”. Galbraith went to the window to survey the damage.

“That’s when I saw cars just flipped over in our parking lot,” she said.

When Galbraith stepped out of her apartment into the hallway, water was flooding in. Other people in the building told her it was because the roof had been ripped off.

In the end, Galbraith and the other building’s residents were evacuated due to concerns over the gas leaks and infrastructure and walked for a while, keeping their distance from other buildings. They have been told it is not yet safe to return.

“I’m not sure where we’ll live. I’m just happy that we’re OK,” she said.

#NashvilleStrong

Nationally, there has been an outpouring of support and prayers. President Donald Trump addressed those affected over both Twitter and during a speech before the National Association of Counties earlier this morning. He is expected to visit Tennessee later this week.

Along with politicians, many celebrities have also come out to show their love for Nashville, the nation’s epicentre for country music and one of the larger cities in the US.

Grammy-award winner Kacey Musgraves tweeted: “Me and my fam are safe but many friends aren’t so lucky… Nashville is so tight knit. I’m gonna help in any way I can.”

Me and my fam are safe but many friends aren’t so lucky. We did live right in one of the worst hit spots a matter of months ago. It’s so crazy. I’m so nervous to find out who the fatalities are. Nashville is so tight knit. 💔 I’m gonna help in any way I can. https://t.co/kfzGmtbixI

— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) March 3, 2020

East Nashville resident Tara Tenorio referenced the 2010 flood that affected much more territory and killed more than 30 people.

“It is heartbreaking to see some of the same neighbourhoods now going through this once more,” Tenorio told Al Jazeera.

Tenorio, who is the chief operations officer of Hands On Nashville, has been glad to see how other Tennesseans have shown up to help their neighbours.

“It really shows that Nashville is as special of a place as we all feel it is on a day-to-day basis,” Tenorio said of the hundreds of people who stepped up almost immediately to donate goods and services. “It is really only the people of Nashville that are bringing sunshine into this day. It is a very localised disaster, but it is not a small disaster.”

It is also not the first time the state and surrounding region have been affected by tornadoes on Super Tuesday.

In 2008, more than 55 people were killed when tornadoes ripped through Tennessee and surrounding states. A number of polling stations were forced to close early as the severe weather approached the area.