CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Three persons are lifeless, together with a toddler, and almost two dozen have been being handled for accidents at a neighborhood hospital after a twister tore by means of the center of Tennessee on Saturday, officers stated.

Police and firefighters in Clarksville have been responding to a number of reviews of injury within the northern a part of the town, which is north of Nashville close to the Kentucky state line. Pictures posted by the native hearth division on social media confirmed broken homes with particles strewn within the lawns, a tractor trailer flipped on its aspect on a freeway and insulation ripped out of constructing partitions.

“That is devastating information and our hearts are damaged for the households of those that misplaced family members,” stated Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts in an announcement. “Town stands prepared to assist them of their time of grief.”

No different details about the victims was instantly accessible Saturday.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Workplace stated in an announcement {that a} twister touched down round 2 p.m. The assertion stated that there have been no confirmed accidents or lacking folks however that it was persevering with to look the world.

A shelter was arrange at a neighborhood highschool.

PHOTOS: Twister tears by means of the center of Tennessee

Residents have been requested to remain at house whereas first responders evaluated the scenario. In a briefing shared on social media, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts stated there was intensive injury.

“So please, in the event you need assistance, name 911 and assist might be on the best way instantly. However in the event you can, please keep house. Don’t get out on the roads. Our first responders want time and house,” he stated.

Clarksville metropolis spokesman Jimmy Settle stated in an e-mail that he didn’t have any additional info on the variety of constructions broken or attainable accidents.

Allie Phillips, who lives in Clarksville, stated she was grabbing lunch when she started receiving notifications of the twister that was shortly approaching her neighborhood.

“It was excruciating watching the dwell stream and never realizing if my home was nonetheless there,” she stated. “Once we lastly determined to depart, the highway to my house was shut down as a result of so many energy strains have been on the highway and we needed to take a detour.”

Phillips stated her house survived with minimal injury – noting that her daughter’s toys have been banged up and {that a} neighbor’s canine kennel hit the again of her house – however she was saddened to see that her neighbor’s home was lacking a roof and a house up the block had all however fully disappeared.

“This doesn’t occur sufficient that you just’re ever ready for it,” she stated.

The Nationwide Climate Service issued a number of twister warnings in Tennessee, and stated it deliberate to survey an space the place an obvious twister hit in Kentucky.

About 85,000 electrical energy prospects have been with out energy in Tennessee on Saturday night time, in line with PowerOutage.us.

The storm got here almost two years to the day after the Nationwide Climate Service recorded 41 tornadoes by means of a handful of states, together with 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. A complete of 81 folks died in Kentucky alone.