Cleaning up after the tornado in West Tennessee will take a while.

Tornado Devastation in Selmer, Tennessee

The town of Selmer, Tennessee, remains marked by the destruction caused by a powerful EF-3 tornado that struck over a month ago. With winds reaching 160 miles per hour, the tornado wreaked havoc on April 3rd. The McNairy County Emergency Management Department reported that 332 buildings suffered damage, with 108 being completely destroyed.

One particular loss was Jesus’ thrift store, which was a total write-off. The roof and back walls collapsed, leaving only about 30% of the inventory salvageable.

“This was the primary place my family and everyone else turned to when they needed something,” stated Mayor Shelley Inman.

Growing Demand for Storm Shelters

The thrift store also played a vital role in constructing small homes across the street for those in need. While the tornado did affect every small home, the owner noted that none were entirely demolished.

Inman estimated the tornado’s damage at around $30 million. There’s currently no set timeline for cleanup efforts, but she mentioned it could take as long as a year. Roughly 10,000 tons of debris has already been taken to the county’s landfills.

“It’s heartbreaking. You can prepare as much as you want, but nothing can truly ready you for this,” Inman shared.

Tragically, the storm claimed five lives in Selmer, including Jamalcus McGowan, who passed just two days before his daughter Jaliya’s 16th birthday.

“On her 16th birthday, we were laying her father to rest,” recalled Brittany Bryant, the teenager’s mother. “It’s surreal how these moments mix joy with unbearable sadness.”

Marking a Personal Loss

McGowan, who was 39, lived in a trailer that lay directly in the path of the tornado. His family described the trailer as “bent like a paper clip.” Surprisingly, his 2012 Dodge Charger emerged mostly unscathed, the only vehicle to survive the tornado. Now, the family aims to repair the car, which they hope will carry emotional significance for Jaliya.