Union university, jackson tn, union university jackson tn, jackson tn news, wbbj, tornado jackson tn

Baptist Press is reporting that students at Union University in Jackson Tennesse were trapped in their dorms after a tornado flattened parts of the campus tonight.

The Union website is down, university officials are trying to find alternate ways to get news for parents and family online.

A third of the buildings on the 290 acre campus are reported damaged or destroyed. Hurt Complex and Watters Complex as well as Jennings Hall were heavily damaged. According to the school president the physical damage on the campus is 10 times worse than it was in 2002.

86 people were injured tonight as tornados hit three states, a family of three died in Arkansas.

Local media is reporting 12 students sustained minor injuries. The Southern Baptist school has about 3500 students.

Union University in Jackson, Tenn., sustained heavy tornado damage Tuesday evening at approximately 7 pm when a line of heavy thunderstorms rushed through the area.

At 8:15 central, news and information director, Tim Ellsworth, reported that students were still trapped by debris in their dorms. At least four of those students have been rescued. Dorms in both the men’s and women’s areas have been destroyed.

“We currently have no serious injuries that we know of and rescue operations are still continuing,” Ellsworth said. “Many buildings sustained heavy damage.”

The Union University Web site is down and Ellsworth said the school is trying to find an alternate means for posting information.

Union University President David Dockery has told local news there were no deaths on campus, contrary to national reports.

The school will be closed until Friday, local news has details of where parents can pick up students.