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Tennessee Recovers from Savage Storms

Tennessee is reeling from the thunderstorms and tornadoes that swept across the area this past weekend. Authorities in the state are reporting at least 11 deaths initially.TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) spokesman Randy Harris said that eight of the deaths were in Sumner County, north of Nashville, and two others in Warren County southeast of Nashville. No further details have been made available as of press time

Hospitals admitted at least 60 people with storm-related injuries and transferred at least nine critically injured patients to Nashville hospitals. Hendersonville Medical Center, south of Gallatin, was running on emergency power after the storm and admitted 20 patients.

As of 8pm on Friday, 31 tornadoes had been reported, and there had been more than 300 reports of hail, with stones of more than 4 inches in diameter. There were also 42 reports of wind damage. Forecasters say that the number of tornadoes has increased as the environmental conditions have warmed to such a degree that more tornadoes are possible than in past years.