Tornado Rips Through West Tennessee, KY, AR; 54 Reported Dead

A series of devastating tornadoes whipped through four Southern US states last night; the death toll is 54 and will probably rise. Look below for on-the-spot commentary and updates from our members -- and if you were affected, feel free to add your own.

Update: cleanup and recovery beginning now.[q
url="http://news.theage.com.au/tornadoes-rip-across-us-54-dead/20080207-1qq5.html"]More than 50 tornadoes touched down as a series of rare winter thunderstorms rolled through five states late on Tuesday and early on Thursday, killing at least 54 people.

The victims included 28 people in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama, emergency officials said.

[/q]
_________________ 

[q
url="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/severe_weather;_ylt=AmTArMptAEKkv8lEGiTffjCs0NUE"]LAFAYETTE,
Tenn. - Daybreak revealed a battered landscape across the South on Wednesday, as crews searching communities hit by a violent line of tornadoes fought through downed power lines, crumpled mobile homes and snapped trees to find victims. At least 48 people were dead.

The storms swept across Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas as Super Tuesday primaries were ending, ripping the roof from a shopping mall, blowing apart warehouses and crumpling a campus' dormitory buildings as students huddled inside.[/q]

___________

Update from ojt at 01:29 on February 6th, 2008
Gas Fire Correction - The gas company fire is actually located in Trousdale County not Sumner as previously reported.  Officials are trying to evacuate the community but this is difficult since most phone lines are down.  Anyone living in the area is enouraged to get away from the area as quickly as possible.

It is believed that this fire is related to the storm but that has not yet been confirmed.

 This storm is not over.  More storms are on the way.

Hickman County and Hardin County are reporting that all their schools will be closed tomorrow.

The name of the natural gas company has been confirmed to be Columbian Gulf.  People are driving from miles away to take pictures of this horrific fire.  The flames can be seen for up to 30 miles.  For miles away you can hear the fire which sounds like wind.  Ambulances are arriving from multiple counties.

Castalion Springs Post Office in TN has been destroyed. 

_____________________

 Update from ojt at 11:50 on February 6th, 2008

Parents of Union University in TN are encouraged to pick up their children at Jackson Civic Center and Liberty Technical School.  Most students have been moved there.

Natural Gas  Pumping Station is on Fire in Sumner County.  This is a 4,200 foot gas line.  Cars in the area are overturned everywhere.  People are being asked to stay away from this area.More on the Natural Gas Pumping Station - From miles away you can see the flames in the air.  Residents in the area are saying the flames are 200-300 feet in the air.  The rumbling can be heard for miles away and the heat can be felt.  People in the area say the fire is so bright that it looks like daylight.  No emergency vehicles are reported to be on the scene yet.

_____________________________  Update at 11:43pm EST on February 5th, 2008.  

Update from ojt at 22:49 EST on February 5th, 2008 new


David Dockery, President of Union University has announced that 8 children remain trapped in one of the dorms.  Rescue crews are working to dig them out.

 Herts (spelling)sidence Dorm (A woman's dorm) was completely destroyed.  Several other buildings were damaged with roofs blown off and water damage.  Damage is in the millions.  Approximately 1/3 of the campus has been severely damaged.

 Classes will be canceled until February 13.  Students are being moved to safety and local residents are being asked to take in some students until their parents can get them home.
 Power is down.  There will be no e-mail notifications for the parents.  Parents are encouraged to pick up their students when it is safe as they will not be able to use their cars. Parents are instructed to go to the South entrance.
____________________________
 
CNN reports that a tornadoes are heading toward Nashville and Memphis.  With 86 people injured in Jackson.
____________________________
 
Update from ojt at 22:25 EST on February 5th, 2008

I just received an e-mail from a friend out in Jackson.  Union University has hit and has some fatalities.  Two dorms were hit and some students are still trapped in the buildings.  Tractor trailors are overturned.  Another storm is heading towards this area.
 
_______________________________ 

Authorities have confirmed that a tornado has touched down near Arlington (25 miles northeast of downtown Memphis).

Damage was done to Hickory Ridge Mall and some other buildings.

 I am currently in Murfreesboro TN, wind picking up, clowds
everywhere, temperature about 70 degrees.  Bad weather expected to hit
us around 2 in the morning

_______________ 

We'll keep an eye out for more information.  Please comment if you have an update.