Welcome to Sign in | Join | Help
in
Home Blogs Forums Photos Calendar

Speak Up! Memphis

Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through the Mid-South

Tennessee emergency officials report 11 more deaths, bringing the death toll from mid-south storms to 44.

Emergency officials say the death toll from the storms has risen to 24 in Tennessee alone.
  
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Randy Harris says that at least 10 fatalities have now been reported in Moore County, along the Kentucky border northeast of Nashville.
  
He says about 150 people have been injured. But there is no estimate on how much damage the line of storms that struck the state Tuesday night and Wednesday morning may have caused.
  
Authorities in Moore County were still searching door to door across the rural area to find more victims.

Arkansas officials say the death toll has reached 13 in that state.
  
A set of parents and their 11 year-old child are dead in Atkins in Pope County, where a fourth person also died. The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office says three people are dead in Clinton, where the tornado cut a wide swath.
  
Searchers are to go door-to-door in those communities this morning to look for more victims.
  
Two deaths were reported in Conway and Izard counties and one each in Baxter and Stone counties.
  
In all, 44 people are dead from storms in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.
  
Governor Beebe is to tour damage in Atkins at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 06, 2008.
  
Share your story about Tuesday's storms. It's your turn to Speak Up! Memphis.

Published Wednesday, February 06, 2008 10:39 AM by APhillips

Comments

 

jen said:

should be macon county, not moore county
February 6, 2008 12:08 PM
 

Concerned in Cville said:

People of the town of Collierville,you need to read this and take heed.
I am a ham radio operator and a trained weather spotter.I have police scanners,weather radios.In other words,when a storm is coming I know well in advance.There is a very dangerous problem with the town of Collierville and the weather sirens.I'm going to attempt to explain the best I can.Keep in mind all the sirens in Shelby County are radio controlled no matter what jurisdiction controls them.That means it can be heard over police scanners.It's just basic radio frequencies.
 There is a Memphis and Shelby County EMA office that controls the sirens in Memphis,and unincorporated Shelby County.
 Collierville controls their own sirens.Also,It doesn't matter what part of Shelby County a tornado is sighted in ,the policy is that all sirens in Shelby County are turned on.On the tornado outbreak on Tuesday,2-5-08,I had all radios tuned in.When my weather radio alerted me about a tornado warning in Shelby County I immediately heard Memphis EMA turning on all their sirens.In Collierville 7 minutes went by.That caught my attention.A couple of hours later another tornado warning for Shelby County.This time it took 5 minutes for the sirens to come on in Collierville.Then after night fall the third tornado warning.Ifter 6 minutes I called Collierville PD dispatch and demaned to know why those sirens weren't on.The supervisor told me they have to call the Collierville EMA director to get permission to turn on the sirens.Finally after 11 minutes they came on,Why can't the people in the dispatch office just turn the sirens on when they are alerted that a tornado warning has been issued?Are the people in Collierville dispatch that incompetent ?Or is this just an ego trip that the Collierville EMA director is on at the expense of the saftey of the citzens of Collierville ?I know for a fact at the EMA office in Memphis, there is no phone call made to ask permission to turn on their sirens.In Collierville maybe a little common sense should be the order of the day.
February 6, 2008 12:46 PM
 

Seretha said:

I was standing outside of my dorm at LeMoyne- Owen College when I heard the sirens go off. I looked up and the clouds looked as though they were spinning in the sky. They were very dark and fierce looking. Thankfully they did not touch down. I went indoors and stayed glued to all the weather repoarts that were coming in.
February 6, 2008 12:48 PM
 

Glo Little said:

It seems that the news media coverage of the damage in the Hickory Hill area were lacking.The media were more concerned about the damage in Southaven,Ms. and at Union Univ in Jackson,Tn. rather than in Hickory Hill.Why? Could this be Katrina-like? When blacks suffer,who cares? 3 were killed in Hickory Hill? More coverage should have been given to this tragedy! Not to a warehouse thar suffered a little damage.
February 6, 2008 1:01 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

All I saw on TV was coverage about Hickory Hill......how AWFUL to claim racism in the face of tragedy and death due to a tornado.  Sadly though, how TYPICAL for some.
February 6, 2008 1:14 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

@ Glo...you idiot....the warehouse is where the people from Memphis were killed
February 6, 2008 1:15 PM
 

E.O.O said:

Maybe there was such an outbreak of crime after the storm that they were afraid to go in there.I will say they did wear out the Union Univ thing.Way to watch   DOG !
February 6, 2008 1:18 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

By the way, where was Memphis' mayor last night when all hell was breaking loose?  I suppose he was in Mississippi looking after his own interests?  Hey gmoney......you are a STAUNCH King Willie supporter.....where was he?  
February 6, 2008 1:21 PM
 

me... said:

I don't recall hearing that anyone died at the Hickory Ridge Mall. The people that died were in the warehouse. And I don't know what you mean about the coverage of Hickory Hill being "lacking". They were talking about Hickory Hill constantly on Channel 5. I think that the reporters couldn't get near the Mall to get pictures because the police had it blocked off....due to looters....ridiculous.

And speaking of racism, where is the Mayor? How come he hasn't stepped forward to comfort his city? Oh yeah, because he doesn't care.

February 6, 2008 1:23 PM
 

me... said:

Mnshadow53, Great minds think alike! :)
February 6, 2008 1:24 PM
 

Catgirl said:

Glo- They DID report on Hickory Hill- quite extensively. Was it not enough for you because they had the audacity to report on other places as well?
February 6, 2008 1:25 PM
 

Dover said:

Ahhhhhhhh...Glo Little, you have got to be kidding!!!! How can you try to make a black issue out of tornado coverage??? Hickory Hill has been the focus of all reports.  A little more news watching and a lot less whining is in order from you.
February 6, 2008 1:51 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

@ me, catgirl and Dover.....thanks!  I was afraid I had come down too hard on Glo because what he/she/it said was ridiculous!  How stupid to make tornado coverage a racist issue.  Some people should never be allowed to swim in the gene pool!  
February 6, 2008 2:17 PM
 

Catgirl said:

Shadow- no, you did not come down too hard on Glo. Glo was being "ddduuuuummmmmbbbb..."
February 6, 2008 2:19 PM
 

E.O.O. said:

Dover
 It don't matter.They whined when they were the minority,and they still whine now they are the majority.It's just like stealing and violence,it's just in their nature.
Remember , you can get a hog and give it a bath ,put perfum on it,  powder it up , and as soon as you let it loose, where does it go?  Right back to the slop. It's just in it's nature. Go figure !
February 6, 2008 2:21 PM
 

Catgirl said:

EOO- Wow.
February 6, 2008 2:29 PM
 

Dover said:

mnshadow - I never think you're too hard on those who stretch the racist issue/card and  whine. The 'poor me' has gotten soooooooo old!  And besides.... I'm too busy being hard on them myself because.....they deserve it. lol
February 6, 2008 2:30 PM
 

E.O.O. said:

NEXT !
February 6, 2008 2:55 PM
 

Catgirl said:

I'm glad you decided to be my friend. Lol.
February 6, 2008 3:03 PM
 

Vote4Paige said:

I am a student at Union University.  I attend the Jackson and the Germantown campus.  Can someone please tell me why we were the only university not to cancel evening classes.  Union has a policy that your grade will drop a letter if you miss a class.  I was forced to attend class during the tornado.  Please someone investigate this because it seems outlandish to me.
February 6, 2008 6:09 PM
 

jumpingjohn said:

yeah, they always steal, the stole a whole country from the indians. I have to agree about the mayor, if hacket was mayor, we'd never have any tornados. When the mayor ain't causing tornados, he's robbing people and shooting people or causing other crimes. I heard he don't salute the flag either....
February 6, 2008 6:10 PM
 

berryt said:

I agree with you jumpingjohn,How in the hell can we blame a tornado on the mayor..That's just dumb.. He was probably taking shelter like everyone else should have been doing.. By the way Mayor Herenton and Mayor Warton addressed the city and county today, SO WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM mnshadow?
February 6, 2008 8:04 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

What is dumb is you berry and jumpingjohn for not being able to read or apparently understand the previous posts.  NOBODY said our fool mayor caused any tornadoes.  I was just wondering where he was during them....he certainly wasn't doing anything for the people in this city.  He addressed them today, well whoopdie doo!  Where was he last night?????  As I said before, there are those who should NEVER be allowed to swim in the gene pool.  You two are a perfect example.  
February 6, 2008 10:03 PM
 

miss da said:

after the tornado that came down on kirby whitten & yale rd. me & my mom spotted a funnel cloud right over our backyard. we watch it rotate for less than a minute & then it picked up and moved on very quickly. I've never seen so many tornadoes in this city. it was really scary.

why is everyone fighting with each other.
this isn't about the mayor(s) or blaming anyone...this about the safety of the people who didn't get hit or harmed & about the people that got hit and harmed or killed.
February 6, 2008 10:07 PM
 

berryt said:

mnshadow you must be a lonely and bitter person ,as I said before the Mayor should have been  taking shelter like everyone else....with some people everything has to be about race  or trying to put someone down instead of lifting them up during times of need*mnshadow get a life and stop hating on the Mayor this is about the tornados and the victims**********miss da you are right ,my prayers go out to those who were caught in the midst of the tornados,lost thier homes  or lost love ones***May God be with them*****  
February 6, 2008 10:20 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

Too bad our illustrious mayor isn't like other elected officials, like one from Mississippi, who was out there after the storm helping to clear debris and knocking on doors making sure people were okay.  Slick Willie was probably getting a manicure or drinking champagne while planning more shady land deals.  Am I a Willie hater, no just a realistic and disgusted citizen of Memphis.  Are my prayers with those who have lost due to the storm, absolutely!  
February 7, 2008 6:30 AM
 

mnshadow53 said:

as a continuation of my last post.....my being sad and sorry for those who have lost loved ones or property due to the storms does not diminish the lack of care and leadership shown every single day by Willie.  Even the president cares more about Memphis than Herenton does.  At least he's coming here to see the damage.  Has Herenton done that?  He sits in his comfy office or gives a press conference.  Lord no, he wouldn't think of getting those finely manicured hands of his dirty actually helping anyone.  
February 7, 2008 8:18 AM
 

Catgirl said:

I think Shadow is right. It would have been nice Tuesday night if Willie had gone on the  air for just one minute to say something reassuring and positive. It would have cost him nothing, and might have made his citizens feel better. During times of crisis, it reassures us to see/hear our leaders asap, because that way we KNOW that they know   we're out there.
February 7, 2008 8:49 AM
 

Catgirl said:

One more point- Willie is not a leader. Leaders get out there with the public in times of crisis.

Definition of leader-
One that leads or guides.

Willie does not offer leadership or guidance- at least not in a good way. I don't think teaching our children how to be apathetic, condescending, and racist is a good thing. I don't think allowing the corruption in city government to continue is a good thing.

Willie is just a body filling a position. He is NOT a leader.
February 7, 2008 9:20 AM
 

mnshadow53 said:

Thanks Catgirl....good to know you had my back!  :- )
February 7, 2008 9:28 AM
 

Catgirl said:

Always. Can't argue with the voice of reason, after all. :-)
February 7, 2008 9:29 AM
 

Mrwhitey said:

 I've been sitting here listening to the online police scanner and right now as I write this, in broad daylight, thugs are stealing in Hickory Hill right in front of the MPD just like it's a free for all.Ya'll ought to hear this stuff.It is rampant and out of control !The Governor needs to hear all this and send in the National Guard .You bet your rear on this,Mayor Huff-n-Puff won't request them. He is the thug lobbyist.People of Hickory Hill,PROTECT WHATS YOURS BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE ! YOUR DAMNED MAYOR WON'T DO IT !
February 7, 2008 11:14 AM
 

Dover said:

I am not shocked at anything that is going on in Hickory Hill. The crime was horrid before...I would expect it to get worse. I didn't hear the mayor's press conference.  I was told Willie told Governor Bredesen that the damage was not that extensive in Memphis and he should spend his time in areas more affected. Does anyone know if this is correct?
February 7, 2008 11:37 AM
 

mnshadow53 said:

Just another reason Willie should be nominated for World Mayor.....NOT  
February 7, 2008 11:51 AM
 

coreyology said:

It would be wise for tennessee to send the national guard to memphis to patrol the hickory hill areas, because there are alot of looters roamind the streets, and the police is not enough to stop them, they should treat this as hurricane katrina, send the national guard and the marines to patrol the hickory hill area, and any other areas that has been hit.
February 8, 2008 6:24 PM
 

Mrwhitey said:

Herenton told Bredesen that the National Gaurd wasn't needed.They sure got them in Jackson.
February 8, 2008 8:11 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

Herenton doesn't want to look bad....too late....we DO need the national guard
February 9, 2008 5:23 PM
 

Mrwhitey said:

I saw Larry Godwin at a press conferance and he said there has been NO LOOTING in Hickory Hill. I was shocked when I heard that. He just outright lied.You see, it only counts when arrests are made. No arrest, No record..I hate to say this. In fact, I rarely say this, but I feel sorry for the residents of Hickory Hill. You have been left out to dry on your own . I think it's a damn shame.
February 9, 2008 9:45 PM
Anonymous comments are disabled

This Blog

Post Calendar

<February 2008>
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
272829303112
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728291
2345678

Syndication

Powered by Community Server, by Telligent Systems
Inergize Digital Media This site powered by Inergize Digital Media. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of this station.