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WARTBURG, Tenn. — A tragic event unfolded in eastern Tennessee as a violent storm, suspected to be a tornado, swept through the region, resulting in the loss of two lives. Local authorities reported that a mother and daughter from the same household perished during the storm’s passage through the Deer Lodge and Sunbright areas of Morgan County on Thursday night. This information was shared through a post on social media by the county’s emergency management agency.
In addition to the fatalities, officials indicated that three individuals sustained injuries in connection with the storm. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was on the scene Friday morning, focusing on securing damaged or destroyed buildings, with Capt. Stacey Heatherly communicating via email that they believed there was no one left unaccounted for.
The National Weather Service office in Morristown sent teams to assess the damage in the Deer Lodge area of Morgan County and the Thorn Hill area of Grainger County on Friday. The Tennessee Highway Patrol also took to social media, confirming that troopers were actively working in Morgan County to ensure the safety of residents while evaluating the damage to structures.
In light of the destruction caused by the tornadoes, 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 Grainger County, the storm also brought down trees and damaged buildings; however, no injuries or casualties were reported there. Emergency Management Director Jeffrey Atkins mentioned that schools in the county opened two hours late on Friday.
Emergency management officials have noted that Tennessee encounters more nighttime tornadoes than any other state in the United States, raising challenges for public safety as many people may be asleep and unaware of the impending storms. Data from the National Weather Service revealed that Tennessee reported a total of 19 tornadoes last year, leading to one fatality. In contrast, 2023 has seen an alarming increase, with 40 tornadoes leading to 17 deaths. While tornado activity in Tennessee is typically concentrated in the spring, an upward trend in occurrences can also begin as early as February.
Meanwhile, the northeastern United States, particularly New England, faced extreme winter weather conditions, resulting in over 60 reported crashes on Maine highways. As of Thursday night, Maine State Police noted that there were no serious injuries reported. However, heavy snowfall during peak commuting hours created hazardous driving conditions across the region.
Other states in the area also experienced traffic difficulties, including Massachusetts, where a tractor-trailer overturned on the Massachusetts Turnpike, contributing to traffic congestion. New England residents braced themselves for another wave of severe weather, as forecasts indicated an even stronger storm system was set to arrive late Saturday into Sunday.
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