Nine Killed By Tornadoes

Mon., Jan. 18, 1999

Tornadoes with damaging winds, hail and rain moved through parts of western and central Tennessee Sunday night, killing nine people and injuring dozens.

Seven people were killed in Madison County in the western part of the state, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Kurt Pickering said. One person died in Henderson County and another was killed in Hardeman County.

At least 71 people were taken to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, and 11 were in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Jan Boud said.

Power outages were reported in many areas as high winds damaged homes and snapped tree limbs and power lines.

The storm moved across the state at about 50 mph, National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Moser said. It reached Nashville at about 8:30 p.m. and dissipated as it headed east.

About 30 homes were damaged or destroyed in Henderson County, said Michael Stanford, the county’s assistant fire chief. A woman’s body was found in the ruins of her home. Her husband was seriously hurt.

Three others in west Tennessee also were hurt.

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Nine Killed By Tornadoes

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