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Some parts of western Tennessee are dealing with severe tornado damage. The National Weather Service says two "very large" tornadoes hit the town of Selmer overnight. Images on social media show buildings destroyed in Selmer and debris scattered in the streets. A tornado warning is currently in effect in the Nashville area, as a line of storms sweeps across Tennessee. Last night there were over 200 reports of severe weather in the South Central U.S. and at least 19 reports of tornadoes. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are without power from Arkansas to Ohio.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Emergency Management are declaring a State of Emergency due to severe weather that started Wednesday night. The National Weather Service has stated that the Mid-South is under a generational flooding risk from several days of heavy rain. The governor is requesting a Federal Emergency Declaration for FEMA funds to be used in affected parts of the state. Residents are asked to prepare for the weather which will continue into the weekend.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is declaring a State of Emergency due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas. Sanders is authorizing 250-thousand dollars from the Governor's Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to be used by the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management to cover administrative costs. The Arkansas National Guard has been mobilized with guardsmen and high-water teams to northeast Arkansas.
Arkansas Division of Emergency Management is reporting four confirmed injuries from Wednesday night's storms. The injuries have occurred in Craighead County. So far, 22-counties have reported damage. Each county is assessing damages to homes, downed trees and power lines from tornadoes, hail, high winds and flooding. Information will be updated once made available.