48 Killed in Deadliest Tornado Outbreak since 1985

At least 48 people were killed yesterday across Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama as reported by CNN this morning. This may have been the deadliest single day tornado outbreak since May 31, 1985, when a group of supercell storms barrelled across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, Canada spawning 43 tornadoes and killing 75 people and did an estimated $450 million in damage. The day included Pennsylvania’s only F5 rated twister in history that cut through 47 miles killing 18 and injuring 310!

The entire area yesterday was justifiably under a High Risk by the Storm Prediction Center early in the day. This combined with excellent tornado warning coverage no doubt was a huge factor that we didn’t have more deaths that we have.

Details of deaths, injuries and damage from yesterdays outbreak, the 3rd already in 2008, will undoubtedly be coming in for days to come as massive cleanup efforts are underway. Below are some of the death statistics I have been able to find so far.

TENNESSEE:

SHELBY COUNTY

One fatality and 5 injured (tornado caused wall of building to collapse).

THP radio tower with THP and TEMA antennas fell in Arlington.

Wall collapse during tornado on Sears Building in Hickory Ridge Mall (Chantex Building) in Rockford Subdivision, Memphis.

120,000 pounds of Anhydrous Ammonia released into the atmosphere at Hardy Bottling Company, 5151 East Rains, Memphis (no impact on public).

Memphis Airport closed Runway 927 and Taxiways 2A and 2B; Gate B39 damaged.

FAYETTE COUNTY

One fatality in Somerville (Fayette County): truck overturned in tornado.

Up to 25 tractor trailer trucks overturned (revised) on I-40 between Mile Markers 60 and 70 between Memphis and Brownsville.

HARDIN COUNTY

3 fatalities (tornado), 3 injured

HICKMAN COUNTY

1 injured (wind)

MADISON COUNTY

Two fatalities in Denmark (tornado).

Union University had 16 students trapped in a dormitory, 3 critical injuries.

Jackson Oaks Retirement Center initially reported 50 persons trapped, but American Red Cross arrived and moved the residents to a shelter.

SUMNER COUNTY

5 fatalities, 15 injuries (tornado)

MACON COUNTY

10 fatalities, 65 injuries (tornado)

TROUSDALE COUNTY

Pipeline fire (now burned out), Columbia Gulf Transmission Company, 5422 Green Grove Road, Hartsville, TN

2 fatalities (tornado), 1 missing.

ARKANSAS:

There are 12 confirmed fatalities in the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management is reporting injuries in Pope, Conway, Baxter, Newton, Stone, and Van Buren counties. Fatalities are coming in from Pope County, Conway County, Baxter County, Van Buren County, Izard County and Stone County.

Finally, a bit of video of yesterdays events is now starting to surface on YouTube.

In the below video, pause it at 0:04. You can see a larger wedge type tornado, as well as a satellite stovepipe tornado. This was in Jackson, TN. Last time I saw something like that was May 3rd, 1999 in OKC.