Death Toll From Severe Southern Storms Rises
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Deadly storms continued to rip through the south and southeastern parts of the U.S. on Saturday, destroying homes, downing power lines, smashing cars and toppling trees. At least 17 people in have been killed since the severe weather began on Thursday. So far there have been reports of 116 tornadoes across 8 states.
Tornado and thunderstorm warnings were issued by the the National Weather Service on Saturday for the Richmond, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina areas.
The storm moved into the Carolinas, West Virginia, and also into parts of Florida and Georgia on Saturday, according to a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
"The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement," the National Weather Service said. "Get under a workbench or other piece of sturdy furniture if no basement is available."
According to CNN: "Emergency crews in Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama worked to assess the damage as the storm system moved north through the Carolinas and into southern Virginia."
Alabama has been hit particularly hard by the storms, as seven more deaths were reported in the state on Saturday. Deaths from the storms have also been reported in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Reuters reported:
All the Alabama deaths were in the southern part of the state and were caused when mobile homes were blown off their foundations, according to Alabama Emergency Management spokeswoman Yasamie Richardson August. They included an elderly man in Marengo County, a mother and two children in Washington County, and a father and his two adult children who lived near each other in Autauga County. A tornado-related death was also reported in Greene County, Mississippi, according to the county emergency management.
"This is a serious storm that has already caused significant damage across the South. I hope Alabamians take extreme caution while these storms move through," said Bentley. "When this weather system is no longer a threat, we are prepared to assist our citizens and communities that have been severely affected."
A State of Emergency has also been declared in 14 counties of Mississippi and 26 counties in Oklahoma.
A meteorologist with the National Storm Prediction Center predicted Saturday would be the third and final day for the storm.
According to Reuters: "Tornado season typically runs from March to early July in the United States, moving from south to north as the year progresses. The storms kill an average of 70 people a year."
Here is video of a twister that touched down in Oklahoma on Thursday:
