Three disaster relief units are on the ground in Tennessee as volunteers begin helping homeowners after storms caused terrible destruction and left more than 20 dead. Please pray.
Samaritan’s Purse has volunteer teams out working in Nashville and Middle Tennessee where multiple tornadoes caused massive devastation and killed at least 24 people in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3. Twisters tore through the Volunteer State along a destructive path of about 130-145 miles eastward from downtown Nashville, eventually causing severe damage across at least three counties.
Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham posted on Twitter on Tuesday morning asking for prayer for hurting communities.
“Pray for residents of Nashville and Middle Tennessee who were in the path of powerful tornadoes that struck early this morning leaving several people dead and significant damage. Pray especially for those who have lost loved ones.”
On the same day the storms hit, Samaritan’s Purse deployed two disaster relief units—tractor trailers filled with relief supplies and equipment to help affected homeowners—to Mt. Juliet and Cookeville.
Volunteers gather to pray as they prepare to deploy into Middle Tennessee communities hit hard by tornadoes on March 3.
Our Mt. Juliet response is based out of Grace Place Church in Hermitage; our work around Cookeville, about 80 miles east of Nashville, is headquartered at Stevens Street Baptist Church. Volunteers started working on March 4.
Also on March 4, a third disaster relief unit was sent to be based out of The Donelson Fellowship, on the east side of Nashville proper.
Our volunteer teams are assisting homeowners with clearing trees and debris from yards and homes, placing tarps on damaged roofs, and sharing the love of Christ as we serve in Jesus’ Name. Our staff work with local emergency management personnel to mount a strategic response and coordinate with local churches throughout the deployment.
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are on the ground with us to provide additional comfort and spiritual counsel to hurting homeowners.
Based on initial data, the tornado that hit the Donelson and Mt. Juliet area has been reported as an EF-3 storm, with winds around 160 mph, close to the EF-4 threshold. Three tornadoes hit Putnam County, where Cookeville is located, and one was an EF-4. In that county alone, more than 400 homes were damaged and 100 destroyed.
Please pray for affected communities as residents continue to reel after so much devastation. Pray also for our staff and volunteers as they work to be the hands and feet of Jesus to so many hurting people.
Disaster Relief Unit #6, one of three responding to Tennessee, is on the ground in Cookeville.
Note: This article was originally published on March 3 and significantly updated on March 4 to reflect new information. Details from Putnam County were added on March 6.
