Possible Tornado Destroys Homes, Business in Tennessee

Powerful storms that raked across several states in the eastern U.S. on Sunday destroyed at least 10 homes in Tennessee, but there were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries, authorities said. Spokeswoman Gina Breeding with the office of emergency management in east Tennessee’s Claiborne County told The Associated Press that officers searched ruined homes Sunday night in one particularly hard-hit community, Speedwell. She said the county sheriff and his wife safely took refuge in their basement when storms hit and destroyed their home.

"He and his wife are both OK," Breeding said by telephone, adding law enforcement officials had set up a command post for operations and a school was opened for anyone left homeless.