NASHVILLE, Tenn. - 24 Tennesseans were killed after severe storms and tornadoes ripped through the state overnight, according to WTVF in Nashville.
TEMA declared a level three state of emergency. The National Weather Service said an EF-3 tornado hit the Five Points area of East Nashville.
One of the tornadoes touched down just north of downtown Nashville around 1 a.m. local time, causing severe damage to several areas of town.
The twisters shredded more than 140 buildings and buried people in piles of rubble and wrecked basements. Hundreds of people will be displaced due to the damage.
Authorities say some of the victims were hit before they could even get out of bed. Daybreak revealed landscapes littered with blown-down walls and roofs, snapped power lines and huge broken trees. Schools, courts, transit lines and the state Capitol were closed.
More than a dozen polling stations were also damaged, forcing Super Tuesday voters to wait in long lines at alternative sites.
Mayor Cooper spoke from the Farmers' Market, where a shelter has been set up for displaced residents. He said officials wouldn't be about able to fully assess the damage until daylight. He urged residents to be cautious, emphasizing that there are numerous power lines down, in addition to gas and ammonia leaks around the city. President Trump also tweeted in response to the disaster.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has set up a fund to help those who have been displaced by a tornado that ripped through the area.
The organization says it has activated the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to support the affected communities and the nonprofits who are helping victims address their needs. Click here to donate.
If you'd like to learn more ways to help with the relief in Tennessee, click here.
