In a Friday, Feb. 7 Facebook post, theMorgan County, Tennessee Emergency Management and Homeland Securitystated the weather event occurred in the Deer Lodge and Sunbright areas of Morgan County, located in the north-central part of the state.
“As of our latest update, we regret to confirm that 2 fatalities have occurred as a result of this event, 2 females; a mother and daughter from the same household,” read the department’s statement. “Additionally, 3 injuries have been reported.”
Morgan County Sheriff Wayne Pottershared an advisory about the situation in a Facebook post on Thursday evening, writing it had “caused significant damage and injury in the Deer Lodge area and Highway 27, Sunbright area of Morgan County.”
Evans also told the news station that authorities believe they are confident that there should be no further fatalities from the event at the current moment.
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In an update from Thursday evening, theTennessee Highway Patrolsaid that it dispatched a strike team of nearly 30 troopers to Morgan County,CBS affiliate WVLTreported.
And in a follow-upFacebook updateFriday morning, Tennessee Highway Patrol Capt. Stacey Heatherly that troopers have remained on-site working with local and state officials “in helping them assess the damage.”
Heatherly also added that authorities will later set up checkpoints to make sure the area is secured and that no one is in danger.
“We are possibly going to activate one of our aviation units to help assist [with] the damage today,” Heatherly noted in the update.
Morgan County School Districthad earlier announced school closures for Friday “due to significant damage from tornadoes in parts of our county,” according to theAssociated Press.
Morgan County Sheriff Potter earlier said in his advisory that people “avoid travel to the Deer Lodge area and Highway 27, Sunbright area until further notice” and to “stay away from downed power lines, fallen trees, and damaged structures.”
PEOPLE contacted the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 7 for further information.
source: people.com
