Tornadoes Reported in Tennessee as Line of Thunderstorms Sweeps Through

A powerful line of thunderstorms tracked across central Tennessee on Friday, damaging dozens of homes and buildings and causing at least one injury. There were several reports of tornado touchdowns from local officials and residents, but they had not yet been confirmed by the National Weather Service.

A possible tornado damaged an unknown number homes in an area about five miles west of Lawrenceburg, said Bill Phillips, a staff member of the Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency. Video from Nashville television stations showed a few homes in Lawrence County with roofs torn off, trees downed and debris littering yards.

One person was injured, but it was not believed to be life-threatening. Tennessee Valley Authority power lines were damaged, causing widespread power outages. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency and activated its emergency operations center in Nashville, which allows them to direct state resources to counties. Five counties have reported damage to the state.

Marshall County emergency management officials say a medical helicopter crew reported spotting a tornado on the ground east of Lawrenceburg, near Interstate 65. Some power lines were knocked down in northern Giles County, but no injuries were reported. Warren County sheriff's deputies reported a tree fell down on top of a roof, a four-wheel vehicle had been thrown through a window and a barn collapsed, but no injuries have been reported.

The damaging storms come in the same week heavy rains caused flooding in parts of West and Middle Tennessee and two months after a string of tornadoes killed 33 people in the state.

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