![]() Reports of people trapped in homes or overturned vehicles along with reports of downed power lines were coming in from every state in the region, according to emergency management officials.Īt least 11 people were killed in storm-related incidents in Mississippi Tuesday night and Wednesday, according to the state Emergency Management Agency, which revised its death toll down from six earlier in the day. It was not immediately known how many people were injured. He said a number of ambulances had been dispatched throughout the city. "Downtown was hit pretty hard," said Freddie Day of the Cullman police department. Mayor Max Townson told CNN it appeared a tornado touched down on the west side of Cullman and then cut through the heart of the city, which has about 15,000 residents. "It's very rare to have all these ingredients come together."Įarlier Wednesday a tornado was believed to have struck the northern Alabama community of Cullman, damaging a hospital, ripping the roof off the courthouse and pummeling a number of residences, authorities said. "It is tornado season, but an intensive event like this only will occur maybe once or twice a year," he said. A storm system that brought severe weather to parts of the South Plains earlier this week was heading east, a cold front was moving across the Deep South and upper levels of the atmosphere were conducive for severe storms. Several meteorological conditions combined Wednesday to create a particularly dangerous mix, CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said. ![]() The northwest corner of the city was particularly devastated, he said, with hundreds injured and many others missing.Ī "particularly dangerous situation" tornado watch from the National Weather Service remained in effect Wednesday night for parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia - including metro Atlanta. "It looked like it was probably a mile wide," Birmingham Mayor William Bell said. Soon afterward, witnesses reported tornado touchdowns in Birmingham, Alabama. "It literally obliterated blocks and blocks of the city," Mayor Walter Maddox said, describing Tuscaloosa's infrastructure as "decimated."Īn apparent tornado blew out windows, ripped off siding and damaged cars as it hit the DCH Regional Medical Center there, Command Center Coordinator Janet Teer said. Video from CNN affiliates there showed a massive whirling cloud darkening the sky as it approached. "Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives because of the tornadoes that have swept through Alabama and the southeastern United States," he said.Īt least one strong tornado swept through Tuscaloosa, Alabama, leaving dozens of roads impassable and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. "While we may not know the extent of the damage for days, we will continue to monitor these severe storms across the country and stand ready to continue to help the people of Alabama and all citizens affected by these storms," Obama said. In a statement released by the White House late Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced he had approved Bentley's request for emergency federal assistance including search and rescue support. Robert Bentley told reporters Wednesday evening. "This has been a very serious and deadly event that's affected our state, and it's not over yet," Alabama Gov. The National Guard dispatched hundreds of personnel to some of the state's hardest hit areas. Alabama appeared to be the hardest hit Wednesday night, with at least 25 people killed in severe storms and tornadoes, emergency management director Art Faulkner told CNN. (CNN) - Severe storms pummeled Alabama and cut a path of destruction across several other southern states Wednesday, killing dozens of people, leveling buildings and trapping residents in their homes.Īuthorities said at least 42 people died in storms across the region. Read more about this story from CNN affiliates WBMA and WIAT. ![]() Alabama's emergency management director says 25 people have been killed.Birmingham's mayor says many people are missing and hundreds are injured.NEW:Alabama nuclear power plant loses power.NEW: Three confirmed dead in Ringgold, Georgia.
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