When Memphis went dark, community members brought the light: ‘We keep ourselves safe’

The useful part

A storm lasting about 30 minutes wreaked $18m in damage leaving tens of thousands without power in the US city The storm that hit the Memphis, Tennessee, area on 22 August lingered for only about half an hour. The destruction it left was lasting: $18m in damages, fallen trees and more than 100,000 people without power. Amber Sherman was one of the east Memphis residents who lost power, but her first thoughts were of her neighbors.

How it works

• Days after the storm, a series of rain showers and thunderstorms known as a bow echo storm, the high in Memphis was 91F (32.8C).
• "My main thought was that the power's going to be out for a while and people aren't prepared for that and it's very hot outside," Sherman, a coordinator for Black Voters Matter (BVM) in Memphis, said.

Details worth keeping

Tens of thousands of households were still without power.