A possible tornado that swept through a swath of north-central Tennessee on Thursday night killed a mother and daughter and injured at least three other people as it caused “severe property damage,” officials said.
The Morgan County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency said on Facebook that the two were from the same household.
The agency said the possible twister hit the Deer Lodge and Sunbright areas.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragic event,” it added.
The National Weather Service said it would dispatch a team to determine whether the severe weather reached tornado status.
Citing the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, CBS Knoxville affiliate WLVT-TV reported that more than a dozen homes were damaged or destroyed.
Captain Stacey Heatherly, of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, told the station it had sent 30 troopers to Morgan County to help.
“Right now we have the strike team activated to make sure we assist the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office,” she said. “That is our mission, to make sure we can help.”
Aaron Evans, who’s with the sheriff’s office, said local, county and state first responders, along with emergency personnel from multiple agencies and counties, were conducting in search and rescue operations.
A representative for the City of Oak Ridge told WVLT News the city’s fire department was sending resources and help into Morgan County as well.
An Emergency Operations Center was established, and electricity, phone and internet communications were impacted, he added.
Brian Dakss is a longtime New York-based editor and writer for CBS News, at the Radio network and with CBSNews.com. He has written and edited for NBC News, Dow Jones and numerous radio stations and been a radio anchor and reporter.
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