MORGAN COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE 1:45 P.M. FRIDAY:
The Morgan County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Road Superintendent Joe Miller are coordinating donation efforts for residents affected by the recent tornado, Morgan County Sheriff Wayne Potter said.
The Morgan County Road Department facility, located at 3519 Morgan County Highway, is serving as the central collection and distribution point for personal donation items, such as clothing and household goods.
Those wishing to donate can bring items to the facility. For more information, contact Leigha Brown at 423-539-5009.
The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes struck eastern Tennessee on Thursday night.
An EF-2 tornado with maximum winds of 135 mph hit Deer Lodge in Morgan County, while an EF-1 tornado with 110 mph winds touched down near Thorn Hill in Grainger County.
The Morgan County tornado killed a mother and daughter and injured three others. As of Friday at 12:21 p.m., more than 500 customers remained without power in the affected area.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency deployed personnel to Morgan County to assist with recovery efforts. An Emergency Operations Center has been established at Wartburg Central High School.
Gov. Bill Lee announced on “X” that he would be visiting the impacted area later in the day Friday.
The National Weather Service continues to assess damage, and officials expect to release more information as it becomes available.
UPDATE 10:30 A.M. FRIDAY:
Dozens of people from multiple agencies were on the ground in Morgan County assessing damage Friday morning following a tornado that killed at least two people and injured multiple others.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Capt. Stacey Heatherly said in an update Friday morning that THP troopers continued to assist emergency management personnel. They’ve been there for hours now.
The tornado hit an area near Deer Lodge, particularly a neighborhood on which several homes were located.
WBIR crews reported seeing downed trees and wrecked homes, some completely leveled from the powerful storm system. Morgan County appeared to suffer the brunt of the damage.
“Later, we will possibly be setting up some area checkpoints just to make sure that the area is secure, that no one is in danger and that only the people that should be in that area are in that area,” Heatherly said.
It’s important right now to allow only essential personnel in the area, she said. Non-essential people need to stay “out of the area that was affected so badly.”
“We are possibly going to activate one of our aviation units to help assist with the damage today,” she said.
Among the numerous agencies that stepped in to assist and help with any needed rescues was Knoxville Fire Department’s Special Operations Team, which deployed about midnight.
National Weather Service experts will be surveying the damage Friday and identifying the level of twister that hit.
This is at least the third tornado to hit Morgan County in about 24 years. In May, a tornado struck the Sunbright community in daylight.
Another killed at least seven people in the Mossy Grove area in November 2002.
PREVIOUS STORY: A tornado struck Morgan County Thursday night, killing two people and injuring three others in the Deer Lodge and Sunbright areas, officials said Friday.
Aaron Evans, spokesperson for Morgan County Emergency Management, confirmed during an interview with 10News Today that a mother and daughter died. The three injuries are non-life-threatening, and Evans does not expect additional fatalities.
Emergency responders from local, county and state agencies are conducting search and rescue operations. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has dispatched at least 30 troopers to assist.
An Emergency Operations Center has been established at Wartburg Central High School.
The storm disrupted power, phone and internet communications in the affected areas. Officials are urging residents to avoid these areas.
In Sunbright, a tornado warning interrupted a high school basketball game. Players and spectators briefly took shelter before returning to the game after the storm passed.
The National Weather Service is expected to release its final damage assessment for Morgan County by 4 p.m. Friday
We are updating this story as we learn more.
