A 10-year-old boy has been identified as one of six people killed by powerful tornadoes that ripped through Tennessee on Saturday.
Arlan Burnham was one of three people confirmed killed by the disastrous EF-3 tornado that touched down in Clarksville, a city in Montgomery County.
The boy's family has been devastated by the tragic loss of their son and the loss of their entire home to the chaos.
'My beautiful son, Arlan, hasn't left the house. Ella was taken to hospital but released with superficial injuries. Archer was with his mother. Our house is gone,” the fourth-grader's mother, Katherine, said in a Facebook post.
Joseph Dalton, 37, and Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, died in the Nashville area. Perez's son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2, was also killed. Dalton's mobile home had rolled onto the Perez's during the storm.
Two other adults who died in Clarksville have not been named. A total of 83 people were injured and 23 are being treated at local hospitals following the storms.
Arlan Burnham, 10, was one of three people confirmed killed by the disastrous EF-3 tornado that touched down in Clarksville, Tennessee on Saturday
The family's two-story home collapsed, trapping Arlan and his older sister inside. A neighbor rushed over and helped pull Arlan and her out from under the rubble, but Arlan did not survive
The family lost their son Arlan (center) in the tornadoes, along with their home and all their belongings. A GoFundMe page has been created to help them
Katherine posted a heartfelt tribute to her son Arlan on Facebook, describing how their home was “in the direct path of the tornado.”
The family's two-story home collapsed, trapping Arlan and his older sister inside.
Neighbor Billy Urban rushed to the scene as he helped pull the boy and his older sister from under the rubble, but Arlan did not survive the wreck.
'I owe him so much. He saved our daughter,” Arlan's father Kyle said Clarksville now.
The family has urged others to show their support through a GoFundMe page that was created by his colleagues.
“Please don't blow up Kat's phone. She has to repeat this over and over and it gets tiring to hear her explain, cry and thank her,” Kyle said in a Facebook post.
Donations have poured in for the family as their page, which was set to reach a maximum goal of $5,000, has now raised more than $73,000.
Contributions for the Burnham family will go toward rebuilding their home and funeral expenses for Arlan.
The page read: “Let's come together as a community to show Kyle Burnham and his family that they are not alone in their struggle.”
“Your generosity will provide them with the strength and resources needed to begin the healing process and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this heartbreaking tragedy.”
In addition to monetary donations, clothing donations for the family have also been requested. Arlan was a fourth grader at West Creek Elementary School.
Arlan was a fourth grader at West Creek Elementary School
A total of 83 people were injured and 23 are being treated for injuries at local hospitals after homes and businesses in multiple cities were damaged by the deadly tornadoes
Along with the massive tornadoes, hail the size of neighborhoods fell, while trees were uprooted and power lines were downed in the deadly tornadoes.
Several municipalities reported that roofs were torn off homes, leaving thousands without power. Photos posted on social media showed damaged homes with debris scattered across lawns, a tractor-trailer on its side on a highway and insulation stripped from the walls of buildings.
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said in a statement: “This is devastating news and our hearts are broken for the families of those who have lost loved ones.
“The city stands ready to help them in their time of grief.”
After the horrific twisters, a state of emergency was declared in Clarksville.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said he and his wife Maria were praying for all Tennesseans affected by the storms.
“We mourn the lives lost and ask that everyone continue to follow the guidance of local and state officials,” Lee said in a statement.
The National Weather Service has issued multiple tornado warnings in Tennessee and said it planned to investigate an area where an apparent tornado struck in Kentucky.
A destroyed home is seen in the aftermath of Saturday's tornado in Clarksville. Multiple tornadoes were reported in northwest Tennessee
A semi-trailer is destroyed by an apparent tornado on West Main Street in Hendersonville
Firefighters in Clarksville try to enter a damaged home. At least three people were killed in the city
Shanika Washington said that as soon as she heard the storm sirens going off in her Clarksville neighborhood, she took her children, ages 5 and 10, into a windowless bathroom in the basement of her townhouse.
“The lights were flickering, so I knew it was somewhere nearby,” she said. “I just kept praying to God while it was going on. It was very scary and scary.”
During their twenty harrowing minutes in the bathroom, Washington hovered over her children like a protective shield.
“The back door actually flew open and you just heard a gust of wind,” she said. 'The blinds and everything were shaking a lot. I could tell we were in the middle of a storm.”
When she came out of the bathroom, she looked out a window and saw the devastation: debris flying onto cars with their windows broken. Shutters torn off houses.
Some roofs were ripped off mansions. Air conditioning units and backyard barbecues were discarded like toys, and wooden partitions between townhouses were missing.
Because the power was out in the area, Washington took her children to a hotel for the night.
“I'm still a little upset, so I probably won't sleep much tonight,” Washington said. “I'm still trying to process it a little bit.”