An EF3 tornado struck Selmer, Tennessee, causing significant damage and prompting a response from Tennessee Task Force One. On Thursday, members of the task force, which includes personnel from regional fire departments, were deployed to assist with search and rescue operations in the affected area, according to the Town of Collierville.
The Collierville Fire Department reported that a request for assistance was made to Chief John Selberg, the West TN Fire Mutual Aid Coordinator, after a tornado caused significant damage. The situation required the deployment of Tennessee Task Force One, a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team based in Memphis. Fire departments from Memphis, Collierville, Germantown, and Bartlett responded under State Mutual Aid. Collierville personnel included Bobby Cannon as Safety Officer, Joe Lee Rape as Rescue Squad Officer, and Clay McDearman and Jeff Segerson as Rescue Specialists. They were assigned to search damaged areas, including an apartment complex, a mobile home park, and residential homes, as stated by the Town of Collierville.
Search and rescue teams, including Tennessee Task Force One, worked with local emergency crews to search through wreckage using K9 units and technical search methods. They completed their mission despite severe weather and have since returned home, as mentioned by the Town of Collierville. The response involved coordination between local and state resources through mutual aid agreements.
