a Salem, Iowa native and 'The Voice' alum who lives in Nashville says a deadly tornado touched down not far from her home early Tuesday morning.
Cali Wilson and fiancee Gracie Harris are both safe and say their hearts go out to everyone impacted by the tragedy.
The couple told KWQC-TV 6 an alert came across their phones at about 12:35 a.m. “We were watching the news on my phone, we heard them screaming we’ve spotted a tornado take cover,” Harris says.
Wilson and Harris quickly grabbed their dog and went into the basement, where they stayed for just over an hour. “It was pretty much the first time I’ve seen the destruction something like this can do to a city,” Wilson told KWQC-TV 6. “I’ve obviously seen it in rural areas being from Iowa, but I’ve never seen it firsthand.”
Harris said, "I was heartbroken when I saw the images. I think it's the healthcare profession and the human in me, the I need to get out there and start doing something type-of-thing."
Wilson says, “something like this is not an everyday thing. You don't know where it is because you can't see outside, so when we opened the door it was just like a wall of water and I just knew it was gonna be really bad weather.”
In East Nashville, the Basement East was destroyed by the tornado, but a mural still stands, one of the only parts of the building left.
Wilson said, “that particular building is the Basement East, which is one of the most famous venues here in Nashville for live music. I've seen a few of my closest friends play there. There's concerts there every single week."
Wilson says there were people there during the storm. "I've thought of playing there and dreamed of playing there myself.” she says, “People were actually there, employees were there and some were actually trapped, but in the end everyone was okay thank goodness. That was probably one of the powerful images I've ever seen in my life. That whole building was pretty much destroyed except for that mural.” That mural reads "I Believe in Nashville."
The message of Nashville, like its people, remains strong, Wilson tells KWQC-TV 6. “Tennessee is the Volunteer State and I think people take that to heart when it comes to things like this. I'm very proud to be a Nashvillian now, and Iowa will always be home, but this city has welcomed me with open arms.”