Disasters Don’t Take Their Turn.

They Can Come One Upon Another, Reports Tennessee

On March 2nd, overnight into March 3rd, while the US health and first responders were gearing at a community level to battle the COVID-19 Crisis - now a Pandemic - a violent tornado struck Nashville, TN and a 4-county area.  A You Tube has been posted showing the vast devastation of some areas.

The tornado came on the heels of a severe storm that dropped golf ball-sized hail.

The death toll is reported as 25 at this time along with about 100 injuries.  Volunteers helped day and night to search and rescue any survivors who were trapped.  The American Red Cross set up shelters for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed.  Faith-based volunteers gathered locally, then arrived from other states to meet the needs of the people suffering this horrific disaster.

Many said their cellphone alarm saved their lives, giving them only seconds to seek refuge. 

At this point, as we approach mid-March, the mission is to find the bodies of the few still missing and undertake the demolition of destroyed homes, businesses, public buildings and historic areas.  This will create mountains of debris that will be cleared for eventual re-building.

Recovery will require a focus upon financial tools such as:  private insurance; FEMA assistance; and, personal loans to homeowners.  To get the commercial sector up and running, business aid and low interest loans will be necessary for impacted establishments. 

The timing of this disaster impacted voting in Tennessee, one of the 14 Super Tuesday states.