At least 1 tornado tears through Selmer, several structures destroyed
SELMER, Tenn. — Extensive damage occurred in Selmer following the severe weather threats from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
It was very early Thursday morning when Selmer received significant tornado damage. We were actually able to speak with an individual who was staying in his apartment with his family.
He told us what he saw leading up to the damage and what happened when it was going on.
“When I saw all three of them vehicles start moving I knew business was getting real. So I started pushing everybody into the bathroom. That tree fell on the side of our apartment, started crushing his apartment, there’s a big tree that almost took out half of our apartment,” said Thomas Davidson, tenant.
The house right next to their apartment is completely gone. In fact there used to be a carport with a white jeep underneath. Now that jeep is upside down on the other side of the road. The individual told us that they were very lucky that this did not happen to their apartment that was feet away.
“But other than that, this has got to be the worst one I’ve seen. That three right there, that sucker is almost as big as my car and it just uprooted it just like that. And it took dude’s house with it,” said Davidson.
He also tells us that there has been tremendous support in the Selmer community over these past few hours. Many people have been there, helping out, doing everything they’ve been able to do. We saw state troopers going around trying too look for people to see if they need help.
“The firefighters from here, some fellas that are big in the community has come out and a lot of people with trucks and chainsaws and stuff like that and coming out to help. I’m really glad the community can come together with something like this,” said Davidson.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency confirms one person died in the storm in McNairy County. There has also been very limited cellphone service in the area, people have told us they’ve had trouble making phone calls.
According to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service, the tornado that ravaged Selmer has been assigned an EF-3 rating. More details are expected to follow in the coming days.
According to a post from the McNairy Central High School Facebook page, the McNairy County Ag Event Center is collecting donations of nonperishable items and toiletries. If you are in immediate need of clothing or food, you can go there.
Gibson County 911 and Dyer Fire Department are also partnering up to send donations to Selmer, for more information click here.
We will, of course, keep you updated regarding the amount of true significant damage that has occurred here.
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