March 03, 2020
Tennessee, Promo Companies Reeling After Tornado Strikes
At least 22 people were killed, dozens of buildings were demolished and tens of thousands of people were without power in Nashville and surrounding areas.
At least two tornadoes struck central Tennessee early Tuesday, killing at least 22 people and demolishing homes and businesses. At least 50,000 people were left without power as well.
Drone video showed storm damage in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, which is located east of Nashville.
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 3, 2020
A deadly tornado struck the Nashville area in the early hours of Tuesday. https://t.co/SPsh3yBf8p pic.twitter.com/P1QHkNRm64
One of the businesses affected was Nashville-based distributor Goldner Associates (asi/209800). “Our Nashville office didn’t have any structural damage, but our office is currently without electricity and without phones,” said Laurie S. Aronoff, director of marketing at Goldner.
All of Goldner’s employees have been accounted for and are safe. “Employees are fully operational and working from home with access to email and our servers,” Aronoff added.
At least one tornado touched down northwest of Nashville overnight, with winds of up to 165 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency Tuesday. In Nashville, at least 48 buildings collapsed, Nashville Fire Chief William Swann told The Washington Post. Gas leaks and downed power lines were also a major concern.
Fundraising efforts to help victims of the tornados were already going strong by Tuesday afternoon. One apparel company that sells Nashville-themed gear had raised more than $50,000 to help local tornado relief efforts.