Citizens will come together to remember the lives lost and the devastation left behind one year ago tomorrow (March 3, 2021) from a deadly tornado outbreak.

In the early morning hours of March 3, 2020, an EF3 tornado hit Nashville and Mt. Juliet, becoming the 6th costliest tornado in United States history. A violent EF4 tornado (wind speeds of 166 to 200 miles per hour) touched down just west of Cookeville. A total of 25 people were killed by the tornadoes.

The deadly tornado in Putnam County left 19 dead and 87 injured. It touched down northwest of Baxter at 1:49 a.m. central, March 3, 2020 just after a tornado warning was issued for the area. The tornado moved toward the Double Springs community and quickly intensified. Producing a narrow swath of EF3 to EF4-strength damage, the tornado moved along Highway 70, causing catastrophic damage in neighborhoods along the path. The tornado abruptly dissipated just before reaching downtown Cookeville after a path of nearly 8.4 miles. This abrupt dissipation was in part to a southern circulation developing within the cell to the south of I-40, which later resulted in another tornado, a brief EF0, southeast of Cookeville.

As the northern circulation dissipated over Overton County, the southern circulation became dominant as the supercell went into Cumberland County. An EF2 tornado began near Rinnie, north of Crossville, and moved east into the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, producing extensive tree damage. After apparent dissipation near the Cumberland–Morgan county border, another tornado, rated EF0, produced minor damage a few miles east, just to the west of Lancing.

Damage was also reported in the northern part of Crossville from what the weather service determined as strong straight line winds.

Putnam County officials are hosting a series of events to remember the tornado outbreak tomorrow (March 3, 2021):

10 a.m. – Dedication of land for new park on Hensley Drive

11 a.m. – Dedication of Baxter’s Reflection Memorial for children tornado victims

1:30 p.m. – Tennessee Tech event for students

1:48 p.m. – Churches and TTU to ring bells 19 times for victims

2 p.m. – CRMC memorial event for healthcare workers and first responders

6 p.m. – Memorial service for tornado victims at Double Springs Church of Christ

The names of the 19 who died in the Putnam County tornado includes:

Jessica Clark

Amanda Cole

Hattie Collins

Dawson Curtis

Terry Curtis

Joshua Kimberlin

Sawyer Kimberlin

Erin Kimberlin

Todd Koehler

Sue Koehler

Patricia Lane

Leisha Rittenberry

Harlan Marsh

Bridgette McCormick

Keith Selby

Cathy Selby

Jamie Smith

Stephanie Fields

Robert Dickson