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Tornadoes devastate West Tennessee and Kentucky

By: John Partipilo and J. Holly McCall - December 13, 2021 5:38 am

A house in Mayfield, Kentucky, photographed by John Partipilo on Dec. 12, 2021.

At least four people in Tennessee are dead after tornadoes ripped through northwest Tennessee and Kentucky early Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service confirmed seven tornadoes touched down in Tennessee but haven’t confirmed if the same tornado damaged Tennessee and Kentucky.

In Weakley County, Dresden was hard hit, as was Newbern in Dyer County. Tornadoes also touched down in Middle Tennessee’s Dickson, Humphreys, Cheatham, Perry, Hickman, Davidson, Sumner and Wilson counties.

The most severe damage was to Mayfield, Kentucky, about 35 miles north of Dresden in Graves County, which borders Tennessee. The town sustained a direct hit that wiped out most of the downtown area.

Photojournalist John Partipilo traveled to the area Sunday to document the devastation.

Tornado

The courthouse in Mayfield with clock and bell. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Downtown Mayfield. (Photo: John Partipilo)

At The Way Church and Community Center in Wingol Kentucky, Amora Noelle, 5, sips on a drink at the shelter. Her families apartment was completely destroyed.(Photo: John Partipilo)

Anthony Vasquez and his son Michael, four months old, were given shelter and food by The Way Church and Community Center in Wingo. Vasquez said that he and his family were in a closet in the house. Most of the house was destroyed but the closet protected them. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A mangled SUV sits among the ruins of Mayfield buildings. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Grandmother Barbara Patterson kisses her great grandchildren from left :Lane Richard, 8, and sisters Emily Farmer, 9, and Alexis Farmer, 10. Patterson lived in her home in Mayfield for 36 years but the tornado has destroyed most of the home. (Photo: John Partipilo)

The courthouse in downtown Mayfield was destroyed by the tornado. Photo shot through a window across the street with a Christmas tree. Christmas will be a difficult holiday this year for most residents who lost everything. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A downtown Mayfield neighborhood, destroyed. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Damage in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky, just north of Dresden, Tennessee. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Chaplain Ray Leonard says a prayer with volunteers in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Street signs in downtown Mayfield were twisted by the tornado. (Photo: John Partipilo)

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John Partipilo

Working as a photojournalist for 40 years, Partipilo has won awards such as NPPA Best of Photojournalism and nominated for two Pulitzers. His photography has also been featured in national and international publications. Most importantly Partipilo’s work is about people — people in their different environments and people in their different stages of life. That’s the heart of his work. To him people are so important, because they all have a unique story.

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

J. Holly McCall

Holly McCall has been a fixture in Tennessee media and politics for decades. She covered city hall for papers in Columbus, Ohio and Joplin, Missouri before returning to Tennessee with the Nashville Business Journal. Holly brings a deep wealth of knowledge about Tennessee’s political processes and players and likes nothing better than getting into the weeds of how political deals are made.

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.