EF3 Tornado Hits Wilson County

Wilco Tornado Resources

Helene Singer Cash I March 5, 2020 I Updated March 10, 2020

 

Early morning March 3, 2020 many Wilson County residents were awakened with an EAS Tornado Warning.  What we did not know was that this particular storm would leave in its wake a 50+ mile path of destruction ranging from an EF3-EF4.

 

No one likes to be awakened with an alarm going off on their phone, but these were lifesaving alerts.  Keep in mind that the EAS alerts happen no matter what your phone settings are set to (even if Do Not Disturb is turned on!).  If you are in the designated area for the Tornado Warning, you will receive this alert.  Thankfully, this tornado did pass through our community early in the morning – we have schools received heavy damage, roads were virtually empty and businesses did not have their teams working. 

 

This path of destruction has taken 24 lives, countless homes and businesses.  Here is a brief timeline of the storm from The Tennessean

10:15pm Monday – Storm chaser captured a photo of a tornado 4 miles east-northeast of Malden, Missouri

10:02pm Monday – Tornado Warning issued for Camden, TN

12:35am Tuesday – Tornado Warning issued for Davidson, Sumner and Wilson counties

12:38am Tuesday – Tornado touched down at John C. Tune Airport, destroyed over 90 aircraft and extensive damage to the airport, terminal, hangar and airfield.

12:41am Tuesday – EF-2 Tornado with winds of 125mph passed north of the TN State Capitol

12:45am Tuesday – EF-3 Tornado touched down in East Nashville with winds of 136-140 mph

12:54am Tuesday – Tornado touches down in Mt Juliet tearing roofs off homes, schools leveled 1:02am Tuesday – Tornado touched down just north of I-40

1:48am Tuesday – Severe Thunderstorm located near Cookeville in Putnam County then the tornado strikes highly populated subdivisions

3:25am Tuesday – First reports of fatalities our of Nashville

6:14am Tuesday – Death, destruction and disaster are now visible in daylight

 

In the minutes after the deadly tornado touched down in Wilson County, first responders were out assessing damage, doing search and rescues on leveled buildings, and assisting the community.  Within a few hours volunteers were already stepping up to assist with the mass devastation. 

 

 

#MtJulietStrong • #LebanonStrong • #WilsonStrong

 

We know we live in an amazing community but it’s another thing when we learn how amazing that community really is.  Early Tuesday morning we saw volunteers stepping out to help their neighbors.  Strangers driving from other counties to lend a hand, bring supplies and feed those who are in need.  The need is great in Davidson, Wilson and Putnam Counties but we are seeing support and strength.

In Wilson County, we have a long list of resources.  People helping People.  Yes, we are the Volunteer State, but we have seen that we are the #VolunteerCommunity.  If you need assistance or want to help others – below is a list of resources. 

 

 

WilCo Tornado List of Resources

 

Lebanon

• Lebanon Government
  • City of Lebanon - Facebook @CityofLebanonTN – sharing updates from other entities
  • City of Lebanon Public Services – Facebook @CityOfLebanonPW – safety alerts

• Lebanon Police Department – live community updates on facebook
  • Facebook @LebanonPoliceDepartment
  • Coordinating Volunteers – text your name to 615.499.1561 to get registered and receive volunteer updates
  • Call 615.444.2323, follow prompts for dispatch, if you have additional non-emergency needs

• Lebanon Fire Department – accepting & distributing donated items with updates on Facebook
  • Facebook @LebanonFireDepartment
  • 615.443.2903 for assistance with Large Donations
  • Large donations can be dropped off at Fire Department on 520 Coles Ferry Pike
  • If you need assistance please stop by the Fire Department at 520 Coles Ferry Pike – they will be open Mon-Fri 8a-5p and Saturday 8a-12p
    • Toiletries, Supplies, Water, Food, Canned Goods, Clothing & More  

• Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce - Community Resources
  • Facebook @LebanonWilsonChamber
  • 615.444.5503

• Schools
  • Lebanon Special School District - Family Resource Center
    • Neon Bus Fleet Feeding the Community - be sure to check back to the LSSD News Updates for more info
  • Wilson County Schools - Community Information School Updates
    • Facebook @WilsonK12TN
    • Check Back for Updates and more information

• Church Resources – churches may be offering additional services, here is a quick resource list
  • Highland Heights Church of Christ – has served as a shelter
    • Facebook @HHCofC
    • 615.444.3430
    • Red Cross Shelter
  • College Hills Church of Christ – posting where to find meals
    • Facebook @CollegeHillsChurch
    • 615.444.9502
  • Immanuel Baptist – resource
    • Facebook @ImmanuelBaptistChurch.LebanonTN 
  • First Baptist Church Lebanon - Child Care, volunteer coordination and community resource
    • Facebook @FBCLebanon - check back for updates

• Planet Fitness Lebanon – closed for club use but open for showers and electric access to all members of the community
  • • • • • • • • 1031 W Main St, Lebanon
                • 615.994.6905
            •  
• Finding Personal Belongings
  • • Lebanon City Museum = bring to museum, they will catalogue and have available
    • Wilson County Tornado Victim Lost and Found – Facebook @Wilson County Tornado Victim Lost and Found Group

Mt Juliet

• Mt Juliet Government
  • City of Mt Juliet – Facebook @MtJuliet – community updates

• Mt Juliet Police Department – community updates, road closures, Facebook Live updates
  • Facebook @MtJulietPolice
  • Sign Up to receive Nixle Alerts 
  • Web listing of resources, road closures, etc - this is a comprehensive list of information in Mt Juliet
  • Tornado Assistance Request Portal to submit assistance requests 

• Mt Juliet Fire Department – sharing community updates
  • Facebook @MJFireDepartment 
• Mt Juliet Chamber of Commerce - Storm Relief Hot Spot & sharing community updates
  • Facebook @MtJulietChamber
  • Storm Relief Hot Spot - office hours Monday - Friday 8-4:30
  • 615.758.3478

• Volunteer & Donation Committee – to sign up volunteer or donate
  • Commissioner Ray Justice 615.975.0292 or rjustice@mtjuliet-tn.gov
  • Mt Juliet Community Center – disaster relief donation center
    • Monday – Saturday 8a-7p and Sunday 2-4p

• Church Resources – churches may be offering additional services, here is a quick resource list
  • Mt Juliet Church of Christ - Disaster Relief
    • Facebook @MJCOC
    • Website – MtJuliet.org/MJRelief

• Planet Fitness Mt Juliet – closed for club use but open for showers and electric access to all members of the community
  • • 1335 N Mt Juliet Rd, Mt Juliet
    • 615.988.5400

 

Wilson County

• Wilson County Government – sharing resource information
  • Facebook @WilsonCountyTNGovernment
• Randall Hutto, Wilson County Mayor – sharing resource information
  • Facebook @MayorHutto
  • Mayor Hutto Blog - updates on services, resources and assistance
• Wilson County, TN Television WCTV – sharing resource information
  • Facebook @WilsonCountyTV
  • Airing statements and updates!
• Wilson County Sheriff – sharing resource information
  • Facebook @WIlsonCoSheriff
• WEMA – Wilson County Emergency Management Agency – sharing resource information
  • Facebook @WilsonTNEMA

• Red Cross – providing disaster relief Wilson County
  • Facebook @RedCrossTN – disaster relief information
  • 1-800-RED-CROSS
• Salvation Army - providing meals and other assistance
  • Facebook @SalvoArmyWilsonCounty
  • 615.449.3495
  • Serving Wilson County
• Generation Changers Church – distributing supplies
  • Facebook @GenerationChangersChurchNashville

 

State of TN

• UT Extension Services – Resources for Disaster Recovery
• TN Department of Health – Crisis Information
  • Facebook @TNDeptofHealth
  • Crisis Clean Up Line 1-800-451-1954

• TN Department of Agriculture – Crisis Information
  • Facebook @TNAgriculture

• TN Disaster Information (TN EMA) – Crisis Information
  • Facebook @TNDisasterInfo
    • Comprehensive Resource Information
      • Resources for Disaster Recovery
      • Tornado and Severe Weather Response
      • FEMA Resources & Information 

• TN Department of Safety
  • Facebook @TennesseeSafety
  • Mobile License Bus will be set up at the Lebanon Outlet Mall front parking lot on Monday, March 9 from 8a - 4:30p for anyone who needs to replace a driver’s license because of storm damage
• TN Department of Workforce Development
  • Employer Phone Number: (615) 551-3501 
  • Employee Phone Number: (615) 247-5138

• Mid Cumberland Community Action Agency - Coordinating Relief and Food
  • Facebook @MidCumberlandCommunityActionAgency

 

 

 

NATIONAL

• FEMA - available in Wilson County for assistance
  • FEMA website will provide disaster assistance 
  • Lebanon - Outlet Mall
• Asbestos.com - Natural Disaster information on clean up and asbestos mitigation

A Special Thank You to all First Responders - because of your assistance, service and dedication we can rest quietly. 

The Wilson Post has also put together a list of resources for all who have been impacted.  

 

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2020 at 4:17 PM and is filed under Featured, Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.