Morgan County reports significant damage and loss of life after destructive storms hit East Tennessee
A violent storm system tore through Morgan County, Tennessee on the night of February 6, leaving widespread destruction, injuries, and loss of life, particularly in the Deer Lodge area. NWS issued multiple Tornado Warnings across eastern parts of the state, including the Knoxville area.
State troopers rushing to the scene of potential tornado damage in Morgan County on February 6, 2025. Image credit : THP
A violent storm system struck Morgan County, Tennessee, on the evening of Thursday, February 6, with a possible tornado touching down in the Deer Lodge and Sunbright areas around 20:27 LT. The storm caused widespread destruction, resulting in severe property damage, multiple injuries, and loss of life.
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.
Morgan County Emergency Management Agency has deployed over 100 personnel to identify and assist those in need, and established an Emergency Operations Center, with additional staging and safety locations, including Wartburg Central High School. At least 30 troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) were also dispatched to the area.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid these areas to allow emergency responders to assess and manage the situation.
Power, phone, and internet services have been disrupted, with at least 900 homes experiencing outages.
Citizens were advised to stay away from any fallen trees, powerlines, and damaged structures until further notice, as first responders are still clearing pathways.
“My wife, from Morgan County, is steadily getting updates from her family hit by the tornadoes. She’s already lost her cousin, not sure about her cousin’s daughter, and it sounds like there may be more,” one of the locals reported on X.
A storm cell developed rotation and brought damaging winds south of Knoxville as well, bringing a Tornado Warning southward. The warning also kept some people at Food City Center from leaving a Lady Vols game.
A tree reportedly fell on a church in the Fountain City community, although no injuries were reported.
Updates
17:00 UTC, February 7
The suspected tornado in Morgan County has left at least two people dead — a mother and her daughter, and three others injured.
If confirmed, this would be the first deadly tornado event in the United States in 2025.
References:
1 Storms bring dangerous winds, rain, and hail to East TN; damage and injuries reported in Morgan County – 10 News – February 6, 2025
2 Morgan County, TN Emergency Management and Homeland Security updates – Morgan County – February 7, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
President Trump must put a stop to all chemical spraying in our skies that are intended to alter our weather or sun blocking. The companies that have been doing this with approval of the Biden administration must be brought forth and questioned by the federal government. Governor DeSantis of Florida is the only person I have heard of in government that forbids this spraying over his state.
FYI – West Virginia— State Of Emergency Declared For Cabell, Kanawha Counties Over Storms —
– WV Public Broadcasting – Jack Walker – Published February 7, 2025 – 12:46 pm (EST) –
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— EXCERPT — The governor has placed Cabell and Kanawha counties under a state of emergency due to severe weather conditions that began Wednesday.
– Gov. Patrick Morrisey placed all 55 West Virginia counties under a state of preparedness Wednesday, eyeing National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts of flash flooding, strong winds and freezing rains.
– But the governor’s office announced Thursday that fallout from the storms warranted a more significant emergency preparedness declaration for the two southern West Virginia counties. –
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