Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Saturday, April 11, 2009 1:50 pm

Michael Ghee, 7, asks Gov. Phil Bredesen a question. TMP photo by Lisa Marchesoni

Gov. Phil Bredesen memorialized mother Kori Bryant, 30, and her 9-week-old daughter, Olivia, who were killed in the Good Friday tornado, when he stopped by the remains of their Haynes Drive home.

“It’s a tragedy,” Bredesen said of the death of the mother and daughter. “It tears your heart out.”

Prayers should go out to the family, he added.

The county’s five state legislators, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg and several council members, Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess and state officials accompanied Bredesen during the ground tour on hardest hit Tomahawk Trace, Tedder Boulevard, Henry Hall Drive and Haynes Drive.

Bragg told Bredesen the mother and daughter were outside their vehicle in an apparent attempt to find safety. Their home sustained major damage.

“They may not have survived in the home,” Bragg said.

The governor noted Bryant and her daughter were ready to spend their lives together.

“A few minutes later, they’re gone,” Bredesen said solemnly. “Our heart goes out to the family.”

Bredesen pledged the state’s help.

Bragg thanked Bredesen for the offer of the state’s help.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Basham said Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives will help assess the damage. Based on the assessment, Bredesen may seek national funding for the emergency response. National Guard Adjunct General Gus Hargett toured the devastation from a helicopter.

“It was good it wasn’t too wide,” Hargett said. “It could be a lot worse.”

From the air, Bredesen said it appeared to be very narrow.

“I am astonished not more than two people died,” Bredesen said.

Damage from the air appeared to be flat.

“What you can’t see from the sky are family’s photographs,” he said.

The governor described people’s homes as their castles. Within seconds, their private spaces were open to the sky.

“People’s lives are one way one minute and turned upside down the next minute,” Bredesen said.

Victims and families and friends gathered up the possessions like photographs scattered around the neighborhood.

“That’s the nucleus that gets people back together,” the governor said.

Bredesen stopped often to talk to tornado victims.

Alton Pruitt told Bredesen he and his wife, who are retired, were home when the tornado struck.

“We didn’t get hurt anyway,” Pruitt said, adding they’ve lived in the house five years. “This is my home.”

Debbie Bercegeay of Middle Tennessee Baptist Church offered Bredesen a sandwich. She and church members passed out food to volunteers and helped clear yards.

Her husband, Mike, glanced around at the devastation in every direction.

“It’s unbelievable,” Mike Bercegeay said. It’s like a war zone.”

Bredesen complimented everyone who helped in the cleanup effort.

“This is obviously a very solid community,” Bredesen said, adding that in less than 24 hours, people were making sure everyone was safe, housed and fed. “You can’t stop this from happened. Tennessee does a wonderful job when it does.”

Bredesen cooked himself a hot dog at Atmos Energy’s grill station manned by Brian Hercules, Roger Nash and Alan Farley.

Bredesen took time to listen to youngsters as well, even if it was off the subject of tornadoes.

Michael Ghee, 7, from Middle Tennessee Baptist Church, asked the governor, “Do you know what tax day is?” Bredesen asked for his answer. “It’s the day the governor has to know everything about people’s taxes.”

“I learned something today,” Bredesen replied.