Mother and Daughter Lose Lives in Eastern Tennessee Tornadoes

WARTBURG, Tenn.—Two tornadoes swept through eastern Tennessee, resulting in the deaths of a mother and daughter, while three others sustained injuries, officials reported on Friday.

The fatalities occurred in the same household during the storm that struck the lightly populated areas of Deer Lodge and Sunbright in Morgan County on Thursday night, according to a message from the county’s emergency management agency on social media.

No immediate information on the conditions of the three injured individuals has been provided.

Capt. Stacey Heatherly of the Tennessee Highway Patrol stated in an email that troopers were present on Friday morning to assist with securing damaged or destroyed structures. Officials believe that there are no individuals currently unaccounted for, Heatherly mentioned.

Preliminary assessments released Friday afternoon revealed that two tornadoes affected the area on Thursday, according to the Morristown National Weather Service office. The tornado that struck Deer Lodge in Morgan County had peak winds of 135 mph and was classified as an EF2, categorized as “significant” on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The second tornado in Thorn Hill, Grainger County, had maximum winds of 115 mph and was rated as an EF1.

In a statement on Friday, Gov. Bill Lee shared that he and his wife, Maria, were praying for those affected by the storm. The governor visited Morgan County on Friday to assess the damage, during which he spoke with a man who lost both his daughter and his home.

“It’s heartbreaking to witness the struggles these individuals are facing today,” Lee expressed during a press conference. “We’re here to show our support and let them know they are not alone.”

The Tennessee Highway Patrol has mentioned on social media that troopers are actively present in Morgan County to ensure resident safety and evaluate structural damage.

The Morgan County School District announced on its website that schools would be closed on Friday due to “significant damage from tornadoes in parts of our county.”

In addition, the storm caused downed trees and structural damage in the Thorn Hill area of Grainger County, although there were no reported injuries or fatalities there, according to county Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Atkins.

This storm event coincides with nearly a year since a deadly tornado struck northeast Tennessee, including Morgan County, damaging properties such as a funeral home and residences in Sunbright.

Emergency officials have stated numerous times that Tennessee experiences a higher frequency of nighttime tornadoes than any other state in the United States, making public warnings challenging as many residents are asleep and unable to see the impending danger.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency added that counties affected by the storm also included Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Putnam, and Sevier. Officials have continued to caution against potential severe weather throughout the South on Friday, with flood warnings issued in states such as Arkansas, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Additionally, on Friday, communities in Kentucky and West Virginia continued recovery efforts from flooding that occurred in low-lying areas due to severe thunderstorms on Thursday. Several creeks and rivers remained slightly above flood stage as of Friday.

As per the National Weather Service, Tennessee recorded 19 tornadoes last year, resulting in a single fatality. In 2023, the count rose to 40 tornadoes with 17 fatalities reported. Although most tornado activity in Tennessee peaks in the spring, it is not unusual for the state to experience increased tornadoes as early as February.

Meanwhile, New England faced significant snowfall, leading to more than 60 reported crashes on Maine’s highways. As of Thursday night, Maine State Police had not reported serious injuries, but the hazardous conditions during peak commuting hours made for dangerous roadways throughout the state.

Traffic disruptions were also noted in other states, highlighted by a tractor-trailer overturning on the Massachusetts Turnpike, causing significant delays.

New England states are bracing for another potential storm forecasted to arrive late Saturday into Sunday, which could yield similar conditions.