NASHVILLE — A day after the deadliest tornado outbreak in Tennessee since at least 2011, a state of emergency is still in effect as tens of thousands of residents grappled with no electric power, disrupted gas and water lines and impassable roads.

Storms struck just after midnight Tuesday and dropped roaring tornadoes across four counties in Tennessee, killing at least 24 people and flattening buildings. An EF-3 tornado with winds up to 165 mph tore across the Nashville area, killing two people downtown, according to the National Weather Service.

In Putnam County, which was hardest hit, at least 18 were killed by the storms, five of whom were children, officials said. Dozens more are still missing as of Wednesday morning.

The destruction stretched for 50 miles across four counties, and Gov. Bill Lee (R), who surveyed the area via helicopter, said it will take days just to assess the scope of the damage.

As rescuers continue to search Wednesday, the death toll may rise, Lee warned.

“There is a good possibility there may be more,” he said Tuesday. “It’s early yet.”

The National Weather Service had sent alerts out just before the twisters took shape, but the storms moved quickly, making it difficult for many to get to safety in time.

“It hit so fast, a lot of folks didn’t have time to take shelter,” Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said Tuesday. “Many of these folks were sleeping.”

Putnam County officials had identified all but one of the 18 who died, Porter said Wednesday. Five of those killed were children under 13.

In coordination with the sheriff’s office, the county is still attempting to locate 21 people who were reported missing by family or friends, but some of them may have just not been able to call their loved ones, Porter said.

“Yesterday was a terrible day for cell service,” he said.

Despite that, deputies and volunteers are still combing through debris and marshland in Putnam County.

About 100 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, Putnam officials said.

In Nashville, at least 48 buildings collapsed, according to Fire Chief William Swann. Officials said gas leaks were “a major concern” in the tornado’s wake. About 250 electrical poles were downed or damaged, according to Nashville Electric Service.

Basement East, an iconic music venue in Nashville, was nearly flattened. One surviving wall had a red, white and blue “I believe in Nashville” mural painted on it.

Three or four agricultural buildings at the Tennessee State University were damaged. The historic Tennessee State Prison was also destroyed.

President Trump announced on Tuesday that he would visit the area on Friday.

“Our hearts are full of sorrow for the lives that were lost,” Trump said. “It’s a vicious thing, those tornadoes. I’ve seen many of them during a three-year period. If you’re in their path, bad things happen. Really bad things happen.”

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Lee said he spoke with Trump as well as FEMA officials on Tuesday.

“The coordination between federal officials and our state officials is what we need and it has already begun,” Lee said.

County music stars went on social media to share support for the community, famous for its ties to the industry.

Country music singer Dierks Bentley tweeted he landed in Nashville hours before the tornado touched down.

The Nashville twister on Tuesday crossed the paths taken by both the infamous 1933 and 1998 tornadoes that previously tore through area, The Post reported.

Tornadoes are especially dangerous at night. A 2018 study found that nearly half of all tornadoes in Tennessee occurred at night, and more than 60 percent of these tornadoes resulted in deaths. This storm was the deadliest the U.S. since 23 people were killed in Lee County, Ala., on March 3, 2019 — exactly one year ago.

Officials on Tuesday pleaded for residents to stay off the roads when possible, but aside from assessing the damage, residents were also out in force — to vote.

Despite the polling locations relocating, long waiting times at the remaining precincts and road closures, more than 515,000 Tennessee voters cast their ballots in the Super Tuesday primary, with a plurality voting for former vice president Joe Biden. An eleventh-hour ruling extended voting time in Davidson County, where Nashville is located.

“Of course we want people to exercise caution in places like downtown Nashville, but we also want people to exercise their rights and get out and vote,” Lee said.

At least 15 precincts were relocated and others were damaged or required a generator.

“East Nashville isn’t letting a tornado stop us from participating in our democracy,” Lisa Estrada, a Nashville resident, tweeted from her polling station. “What’s your excuse?”

Kornfield and Bellware reported from Washington. Matthew Cappucci and Timothy Bella in Washington contributed to this report.

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