North Nashville residents come together to clean up after tornado

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — North Nashville residents are beginning recovery efforts after an EF-2 tornado tore through the neighborhood early Tuesday night.

The Lee Chapel AME Church on Dr DB Todd Jr. Boulevard has set up as a help center for the neighborhood.

Rep. Harold Love said they are serving those with varying levels of need. Many residents are without power, homes are damaged or collapsed. The damage was extensive and devastating.

"People had to tunnel out of their house after it was blown up," said Mayor John Cooper.

The church is looking for volunteers and donations, including flash lights, batteries, duct tape, bags for groceries, baby food, diapers and boxes.

Love said he's grateful for the mayor's office for donating a generator to the church, which is among the thousands of homes and businesses without power on Wednesday.

Nashville Cooper has also visited the area to see the damage and help those in need. He reassured residents, saying that even though North Nashville has felt neglected in the past, they

"sometimes people feel often overlooked – and they have been overlooked lets say it this neighborhood has often been overlooked but they wont be in our recovery efforts

The church will be open until 8 p.m. Wednesday, and will stay open as a help center for the rest of the week.

Waffle House is helping North Nashville by providing free meals for anyone until Friday. Jefferson St. Missionary Baptist will also open its doors for supplies and donations for the survivors and victims.