Unseasonal late-night tornadoes and high winds tore through parts of the South and Midwest on December 10 and 11, 2021. They produced a series of at least seven tornadoes touched down in Middle Tennessee, the National Weather Service confirmed Sunday, damaging homes and businesses and knocking out power for about 95,000 residents at the peak of the storms.
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee accepted donations for its Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to help provide relief and recovery assistance to all affected Middle Tennessee communities. Tornadoes touched down in Dickson, Kingston Springs and Burns in Dickson County; Humphreys, Stewart and Hickman; as well as parts of Davidson County, Sumner County, and Mt. Juliet in Wilson County.
Despite extensive damage, Middle Tennessee was spared the brunt of the storms. They left a path of death and destruction from Arkansas and Missouri through Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, with at least 64 people confirmed dead in Kentucky alone as of this morning, according to news reports.
Our friends and family in nearby Western Kentucky were hardest hit. A roof of a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky collapsed, about two hours from Nashville, leaving multiple deaths. And Bowling Green, about an hour north of Nashville, suffered extensive damage. In Illinois, at least six people were confirmed dead after an Amazon warehouse was decimated in the Southeastern city of Edwardsville, near St. Louis. At least four people died in upper West Tennessee.
Per usual, Middle Tennesseans wanted to help the survivors.
Donations to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund provided relief and recovery assistance to all affected Middle Tennessee counties. Grants from the response funds were made to nonprofits providing vital services both immediate and long-term. CFMT’s work helped to free up nonprofits to concentrate on delivering vital services while we “connected generosity with need,” and our community set out to rebuild lives.
December 2021 Tornado Breakdown
(as of October 31, 2023)
Money In: $511,913.87
Grants Out: $501,099.07
Expenses Paid: $9,389.04
Remaining Balance: $1,425.76*
*This remaining balance will be refunded to American Red Cross from unspent passthrough funds
December 2021 Tornado Grantees
| Date | Grantee Name | Grant Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/23/2022 | Ark Community Resource and Assistance Center | to provide immediate disaster resources in response to December 2021 tornado | $20,000.00 |
| 2/23/2022 | Dickson County Help Center | to provide immediate disaster resources in response to December 2021 tornado | $20,000.00 |
| 7/27/2022 | Cheatham Co Long Term Recovery Organization, Inc. | to provide initial assistance toward repair/rebuild of 20 homes identified through disaster case management. This support provided from funds raised for the December 2021 tornadoes. | $150,000.00 |
| 7/27/2022 | Ark Community Resource and Assistance Center | to provide assistance for the $5,000 and under non construction needs identified through disaster case management, which may include but are not limited to the following: rent, storage, utilities, car replacement, household goods, and furniture. | $75,000.00 |
| 2/16/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | for direct construction support for Nashville homeowners impacted by December 2021 Tornado. | $50,000.00 |
| 2/16/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to cover repair expense for December 2021 tornado recover in Nashville. | $23,368.07 |
| 3/15/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to support repair for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-049). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. | $20,000.00 |
| 3/29/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to support housing materials for repair for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-047). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. | $650.00 |
| 3/29/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | to support purchase of refrigerator and washer/drawer for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-101). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $3,122.00 |
| 3/29/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | to support purchase of refrigerator and stove for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-069). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $2,428.00 |
| 4/19/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to support repair for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-049). | $17,500.00 |
| 5/5/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to provide additional support for repair of home of December 2021 Tornado Survivor DRC04M-49 ($575.64) and provide staffing support for construction manager that has overseen all repairs in Davidson County ($55,925.64) | $55,925.64 |
| 5/17/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | to support material and labor costs for home rebuild for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-001). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $5,000.00 |
| 5/17/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to support additional costs for repair (via change order) for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-049). | $4,008.00 |
| 6/8/2023 | Cheatham Co Long Term Recovery Organization, Inc. | to support home rebuild resources (roof, walls or windows, and other builder expenses as needed) for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-010). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. | $10,000.00 |
| 6/8/2023 | Cheatham Co Long Term Recovery Organization, Inc. | to support driveway repair for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-020). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. | $1,000.00 |
| 7/26/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | to set up the survivors well service at his new home for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-009). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $240.00 |
| 7/26/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to support additional costs for door repair (via change order) for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-049). | $850.50 |
| 8/9/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | Disaster-related damage to vehicle not covered by insurance for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-39). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $4,903.64 |
| 8/16/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | Home repair consisting of carpeting replacement for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-007). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $4,638.22 |
| 8/16/2023 | Inspiritus Inc. | to support professional labor costs for December 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04M-059). | $21,000.00 |
| 9/13/2023 | Cheatham Co Long Term Recovery Organization, Inc. | Funding will be used to remove a tree that is blocking the entrance at the back of the house, making egress impossible. This is a safety concern. (DRC04M-060). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. | $3,500.00 |
| 10/4/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | Support for purchase of furniture and appliances for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-089). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $3,141.00 |
| 10/4/2023 | United Way of West Tennessee | Support for purchase of furniture and appliances for Dec 2021 Tornado Survivor (DRC04W-130). This distribution represents support from the American Red Cross Passthrough Grant. UW of West TN is fiscal sponsor for the Weakley County LTRG. | $4,824.00 |
