Mom and daughter killed, several hurt after tornado tears through Tennessee

A mother and a daughter were dead and at least three others were injured after a tornado tore through eastern Tennessee on Thursday night, causing widespread damage.An EF-2 tornado with destructive wind gusts of 135 mph struck the area of Deer Lodge in Morgan County, according to the National Weather Service.The deadly twister touched down around 8:30 p.m.in the area, about 60 miles west of Knoxville, according to the Morgan County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.The agency confirmed Friday morning that the mother and daughter, who lived in the same home, were killed.

They have not been identified.Three other people were hurt, officials said.The storm also caused “severe property damage” and knocked out power to hundreds of residents, according to WBIR.“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragic event,” county officials said in a statement.“Local, county, and state first responders, along with emergency personnel from multiple agencies and jurisdictions, are actively engaged in search and rescue operations and assessing individual safety,” they added.Tennessee Gov.Bill Lee said the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is on the ground assisting victims and assessing the damages.

He said he will visit the impacted areas later Friday.The tornado is at least the third to hit Morgan County in the last 25 years, according to WBIR.Morgan County has set up an emergency operations center, and there are additional facilities including at Wartburg Central High School.A second EF-1 tornado with 110-mph winds touched down near Thorn Hill in Grainger County, about 100 miles to the southwest, the NWS confirmed.The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale rates tornados based on wind speeds and related damage on a scale of 0 to 5.An EF-2 tornado sustains 3-second gusts from 111 to 135 mph....