Selmer, Tennessee Grapples with Aftermath of Devastating EF-3 Tornado
The small town of Selmer, Tennessee, remains scarred and struggling more than a month after a violent EF-3 tornado tore through the community on April 3rd. The tornado, packing winds of 160 miles per hour, left a trail of destruction that has profoundly impacted the lives of residents and the town’s infrastructure. The sheer force of the storm ripped apart homes and businesses, leaving a landscape reminiscent of a disaster movie.
The McNairy County Emergency Management Agency has painted a grim picture of the damage. They reported that 332 buildings sustained damage, with a staggering 108 structures completely obliterated. The scale of destruction is a visible reminder of the immense power unleashed by the tornado, and the long road to recovery that lies ahead for Selmer.
One of the hardest-hit locations was the Jesus Cares Thrift Store, a vital community resource. The store, a non-profit organization, suffered a total loss when its roof and back wall caved in during the storm. The owner estimates that only about 30% of the merchandise was salvageable, leaving the store essentially inoperable.
"This was the main location that families and everybody came to when they needed something," lamented Mayor Sherry Inman, highlighting the crucial role the thrift store played in providing affordable necessities to those in need. Its absence has created a significant void in the community’s safety net, particularly for low-income families and individuals relying on the store’s resources.
The Jesus Cares Thrift Store was not just a retail outlet; it also served as a hub for charitable initiatives. The non-profit had constructed tiny homes across the street from the store to provide housing for individuals and families facing housing insecurity. The tornado spared none of these tiny homes, inflicting damage on all of them. While the store owner expressed relief that none were completely destroyed, the damage has further exacerbated the housing challenges in the community, adding to the sense of displacement and uncertainty.
Mayor Inman estimates the tornado inflicted approximately $30 million in damage, a significant sum for a town of Selmer’s size. The cleanup process is expected to be extensive and lengthy. According to her there is no set timeline for completion, it could take up to a year. Over 10,000 tons of natural debris have already been removed and transported to the county landfill, showcasing the magnitude of the cleanup effort.
"It’s devastating. It’s something that you just try to always prepare for, but you can’t," Mayor Inman confessed, capturing the feeling of helplessness in the face of such a powerful natural disaster. Despite preparedness efforts, the tornado’s intensity overwhelmed the town’s defenses.
The human toll of the tornado is even more heartbreaking. Five lives were lost in Selmer, leaving families and friends in mourning. Among the victims was Jamarcus McGowan, a 39-year-old resident who resided in a trailer park that lay directly in the tornado’s path. His death occurred just two days before his daughter, Jaleiya Bryant-McGowan, turned 16.
Brittany Bryant, Jaleiya’s mother, recounted the tragic circumstances surrounding Jamarcus’s death. "Two days before her 16th birthday. She was identifying her dad’s body. On her 16th birthday, we were burying her dad," she said, highlighting the unbearable grief and trauma the family experienced during this momentous occasion.
Bryant shared the painful reality of identifying a loved one after a catastrophic event. "When you go to the funeral, they put makeup on, they fix you up, they fill you in, and you look more like yourself. When you’re identifying somebody, especially after such a horrific thing, that looks a lot different," she said, emphasizing the disfigurement and trauma inflicted by the tornado’s force.
Jamarcus McGowan’s trailer was described by his family as being "bent like a paperclip," a testament to the tornado’s immense power. Amidst the devastation, one item of Jamarcus’s possessions survived: his 2012 Dodge Charger. The family now hopes to restore the heavily damaged car as a lasting tribute to his memory.
"He loved this car. This car was everything to him," Bryant said. "She wants to have her dad’s car to drive." Despite the car’s mostly cosmetic damage, repairs are expected to cost around $10,000. The family is determined to find a way to fund the restoration, honoring Jamarcus’s memory and providing his daughter with a tangible connection to her father.
The devastation in Selmer serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of tornadoes and the vulnerability of communities in their path. The town’s residents are facing a long and arduous recovery, grappling with the loss of lives, homes, and businesses. The community’s resilience will be tested as they work to rebuild and heal from this tragic event.
