West Tennessee Reels from Deadly Storms, Flooding

McKENZIE (April 7) — A powerful and slow-moving weather system wreaked havoc across West Tennessee from April 2 to April 6, unleashing tornadoes and historic flooding that resulted in at least ten fatalities statewide and widespread damage.

Statewide Fatalities:
According to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA)’s latest report on Sunday, April 6, the severe weather claimed the lives of at least ten individuals across the state:

Carroll County: One fatality was confirmed – a Carroll County Electric lineman, Chance Carlton, who died in a weather-related vehicle accident while on duty.

Fayette County: Two fatalities occurred when a tornado destroyed a mobile home near La Grange.

McNairy County: Five deaths were reported, with three occurring in Selmer.

Obion County: One death was reported.

Tipton County: One death was reported.

Local Damage Reports
Carroll County: While no widespread structural damage from tornadoes has been reported, several roads and locations were flooded or washed out in the county, making several areas impassable through the weekend. According to Carroll County EMA Director Trevor Foster, 12.07 inches of rain fell within the last seven-day period. Foster confirmed three water rescues occurred in the last 48 hours.

Henry County: Strong straight-line winds on Saturday, April 5, damaged a barn and caused minor damage to four homes along Pleasant Hill Road. No injuries were reported. The county also experienced significant flash flooding due to heavy rainfall, leading to numerous road closures.

Weakley County: An EF-0 to EF-1 tornado touched down in the Latham/Palmersville area on Wednesday, April 2. Eight out of ten assessed homes sustained minor damage, one had major damage, and dozens of trees were uprooted. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported in the county.

Tornadoes, Warnings: More than 225 tornado warnings were issued across the region between April 2 and April 4, according to preliminary data. Two significant touchdowns were confirmed nearby:

In Selmer, an EF-3 tornado on April 3 caused widespread destruction, resulting in at least four deaths and more than 20 injuries, according to state officials.

In Martin, a tornado touched down on the evening of April 2 near Chestnut Glade Road, damaging ten homes—one of which was a total loss—along a 13.4-mile path. EMA reported wind estimates between 80–90 mph.

Utilities and Emergency Services
As of 9 a.m. on April 4, approximately 2,600 customers remained without power statewide—a sharp decline from the 15,400 outages reported the previous morning. In the Tri-County area, restoration efforts have been largely completed. As of 5:36 p.m., Carroll County Electric Department reported only one active outage across its entire service area.

Flooding also impacted critical infrastructure. Two wastewater lagoons in Huntingdon—located at Highway 22 and Barnett Street—were inundated. In Selmer, the municipal sewage system suffered power failures at ten lift stations. All affected sites remain under active mitigation.

TEMA’s Latest Report: As of Sunday afternoon, April 6, TEMA reported the following:
Governor Bill Lee’s request for an Emergency Declaration was approved, providing federal assistance for emergency protective measures.

Damage assessments are ongoing in the impacted counties.

Over 12,200 power outages remained statewide, a significant decrease from the peak of over 70,000 on April 5.

TEMA has provided significant resources to affected counties, including 2,000 gallons of fuel, 38,950 sandbags, 96 boxes of tarps, and 2,026 cases of water.

A boil water advisory was issued for the Grand Junction Water Department in Hardeman County.

TDOT Road Closures: The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) reported numerous road closures across West Tennessee due to flooding and debris. Significant flooding was reported throughout Northwest Tennessee, making many local roads impassable. TDOT urged motorists to avoid flooded roadways and never drive around barricades. On Saturday evening, flooding shut down I-40 in West Tennessee.

National Weather Service Alerts: During the severe weather event from April 2 to April 6, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a high number of alerts for West Tennessee:

Tornado Watches: While the exact number is still being finalized, numerous tornado watches were in effect across the region as the atmospheric conditions were favorable for tornado development.

Tornado Warnings: Over 50 tornado warnings were issued as radar indicated rotation or tornadoes were sighted. Seven of these warnings included reports of actual tornadoes and damage.

Flash Flood Watches: Due to the potential for heavy rainfall over saturated ground, multiple flash flood watches were issued for West Tennessee.

Flash Flood Warnings: At least 21 flash flood warnings were activated as heavy rain led to rapid rises in water levels and imminent flooding.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Information: The TWRA has been actively involved in monitoring the floodwaters and advising the public about potential dangers associated with rising rivers and displaced wildlife. They cautioned residents to be aware of increased debris in waterways and to avoid contact with any animals that may have been forced out of their natural habitats due to the flooding. TWRA also urged boaters to exercise extreme caution due to strong currents and submerged hazards.

Ongoing Recovery: As the floodwaters recede, the full extent of the damage will become clearer. Recovery efforts are underway across West Tennessee, with local communities and volunteer organizations like Samaritan’s Purse mobilizing to assist those affected by the devastating storms and floods.

The state’s Crisis Cleanup hotline (615-488-1875) remains active for residents needing help clearing storm debris.