Thứ Tư, 30 tháng 11, 2016

Death, devastation and tears sweep storm-battered Southeast

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A line of storms and possible tornadoes struck northern Alabama on Tuesday night. Local officials say three people died and some people were injured in Rosalie, in northeast Alabama. Damage was reported in a number of other places. (Nov. 30) AP

The storms are blamed for several deaths and injuries. (Photo: AP)

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. — Deadly storms tore through parts of the Southeast on Wednesday, killing at least five people, injuring several more and devastating homes and businesses.

A pre-dawn tornado in northeast Alabama killed three people in a Rosalie mobile home and critically injured a fourth victim. The same storm was blamed for destruction at a daycare center that injured several people, including children, Patrick Marsh, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, told USA TODAY.

The daycare center's operators, who live in a nearby mobile home, had sought shelter in the building, local officials said.

"Praying for the families of the 3 who died in storms in Jackson Co.," Gov. Robert Bentley tweeted. "Grateful for all First Responders in our state."

The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed the death of a couple in Polk County due to the severe storms. More than a dozen people were injured in Polk, McMinn and Marion counties, the department said. In Polk County, authorities went door-to-door to check on residents.

#BREAKING: devastating scene right now. Tornadoes ripped through #Polk county. Power lines down and businesses destroyed. @WRCBpic.twitter.com/WkTvuU6bO4

— Tim Pham (@TimPhamWRCB) November 30, 2016

In Coffee County, a storm damaged at least five homes in Tullahoma, mostly caused by fallen trees, county emergency management Director Allen Lendley said.

"We have hundreds of trees damaged or down," he added.

Sharon Harwell sat in her neighbor's home there Wednesday morning, fighting back tears. A tree crashed through the roof of the brick home where she's lived since 1978. Several windows were missing. Her neighborhood was overwhelmed by fallen trees, and power lines snaked across wet roads.

She said her children were racing from their homes in Georgia and Alabama to be with her.

"I guess this makes my decision for me," she said. "I've got to get closer to one of them."

Tornado watches and warnings spread to Georgia on Wednesday afternoon. "GTENS ALERT: Georgia Tech is under a tornado warning," the Atlanta school tweeted. "Immediately seek shelter inside a building and tune to local media."

The school library staff tweeted video of dozens of students sitting on a hallway floor: "Tornado party in the ground floor of the Library! It’s lit!"

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Mike Young hugs his friend Sharon Harrell after he
Mike Young hugs his friend Sharon Harrell after he came to check on her after a suspected tornado touched down in Tullahoma, Tenn., Nov. 30, 2016.  Larry McCormack, USA TODAY Network via the The Tennessean
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People salvage items from Sullivan Cycles  in Neel,
People salvage items from Sullivan Cycles in Neel, Ala., Nov. 30, 2016, after it was destroyed by overnight storms.   Crystal Vander Weit, AP
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Amy Smith talks on the phone with her daughter in front
Amy Smith talks on the phone with her daughter in front of Kaila's destroyed mobile home, Nov. 30, 2016, in Neel, Ala. Irwin and her family were not home when a violent storm came through the area the night before.   Crystal Vander Weit, AP
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Mike Young and Michelle Leone look over the damage
Mike Young and Michelle Leone look over the damage to their neighbors home after a tree crashed through the roof after a suspected tornado touched down in Tullahoma, Tenn., Nov. 30, 2016.   Larry McCormack, USA TODAY Network via the The Tennessean
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A firefighter helps remove debris from the Rosalie
A firefighter helps remove debris from the Rosalie Plaza on Nov. 30, 2016, after a tornado ripped through Rosalie, Ala. Storms that spawned deadly winds have dumped more than 2 inches of rain across much of northern Alabama, causing floods after months of drought.  Butch Dill, AP
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John Anderson looks at a red oak tree in his front
John Anderson looks at a red oak tree in his front yard in Tullahoma, Tenn., after severe weather overnight in central Tennessee.  Larry McCormack, The Tennssean, via the USA TODAY Network
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A tree rests on a house in Tullahoma, Tenn., after
A tree rests on a house in Tullahoma, Tenn., after severe weather overnight.  Larry McCormack, The Tennssean, via the USA TODAY Network
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A damaged home near Tuscumbia, Ala., on Nov. 29, 2016.
A damaged home near Tuscumbia, Ala., on Nov. 29, 2016.  Colbert County Emergency Management Agency via European Pressphoto Agency
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Storm damage in the Arley area of Winston County, Ala.,
Storm damage in the Arley area of Winston County, Ala., on Nov. 29, 2016. A suspected tornado killed multiple people in Alabama as a line of severe storms moved across the South overnight, authorities said.  Bill Castle, AP
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    • Mike Young hugs his friend Sharon Harrell after he 1 of 9
    • People salvage items from Sullivan Cycles  in Neel, 2 of 9
    • Amy Smith talks on the phone with her daughter in front 3 of 9
    • Mike Young and Michelle Leone look over the damage 4 of 9
    • A firefighter helps remove debris from the Rosalie 5 of 9
    • John Anderson looks at a red oak tree in his front 6 of 9
    • A tree rests on a house in Tullahoma, Tenn., after 7 of 9
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    There were more than two dozen reports of tornadoes in five southeastern states, the Storm Prediction Center reported. The actual number of twisters could be lower, as there could have been more than one report from the same tornado. The National Weather Service sent teams Wednesday to assess the damage and determine the strength of the tornadoes.

    "People don't think much about tornadoes in November, but it can be feast or famine for these storms this late in the year," Marsh said. "Any time you have loss of life, it's significant."

    Marsh said severe storms began rolling through Louisiana on Tuesday afternoon. Some were "supercell" storms capable of igniting hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. As the storms tracked east-northeast, they became stronger. The first tornado sightings took place near Jackson, Miss., Marsh said.

    According to the National Weather Service and Weather.com, a possible tornado in Noxubee County, Miss., trapped people inside a camp house on Ebenezer Church Road. Four homes were reportedly destroyed along the road.

    By early Wednesday the system had become a wrecking ball, tearing through Alabama and Tennessee and uprooting trees, downing power lines and smashing buildings.

    Bacon and Rice report for USA TODAY. Barchenger reports for The Tennessean

    4:30 am update. Less than 3,200 customers out statewide. 3000 in western counties, less than 100 each in Bham metro and eastern areas.

    — Alabama Power (@alabamapower) November 30, 2016
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