Tornado cleanup commences in Selmer as 3-month mark nears

SELMER, Tenn. — Thursday will mark three months since an EF-3 twister hit Selmer in the early morning hours. Cleanup crews are working through the town, practically going door-to-door.

The tornado struck the town shortly after midnight on April 3. It was given a rating of EF-3 with a maximum wind speed of 160 mph.

It was roughly one-third of a mile wide and on the ground for just over 29 miles across McNairy and Hardin County. It injured 14 and there were five fatalities.

With the amount of damage in Selmer/McNairy County, it may take several days if not weeks to get the damage picked up.

The trees still standing near the path are now permanently bent in the direction the wind was blowing during the storm.

In a post on Facebook, Mayor Sherry Inman stated: “We are prepared for Monday. Cleanup operations will commence on Monday. We extend our gratitude to Anthony Knight and Tim Knight of Knight’s Sawmill for granting us permission to utilize this area.”

Monday, crews targeted areas including New Bethel Road, the north Y area, and Adams Road Extension.

The Small Business Association has opened a Business Recovery Center at the Latta Theater, located at 205 West Court Avenue in Selmer. They will be open from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening, but will be closed on July 4.

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