- At least (people were killed in Mississippi.)
- Five people were killed when storms tore through a mobile home park near the Georgia-Tennessee border
- More than 1.3 million homes and businesses were without power.
At least people have been killed as severe weather and strong tornadoes continued to slash across the south on Monday, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and leaving more t han a million customers without electricity.
There were more than 44 reports of tornadoes as the storms that began on easter sunday tore a deadly and destructive path from Texas and Arkansas, across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia and into the Carolinas and Tennessee.
A number of tornado warnings were issued in the lower part of South Carolina, and damage was reported in Walterboro, about miles west-northwest of Charleston. The National Weather Service said several structures were damaged and numerous trees and power lines were down. Two people were reportedly trapped in their home when trees fell on it.
Planes were flipped and hangars damaged at the Lowcountry Regional Airport in Walterboro.
As the line of storms continued to push to the northeast, another tornado was reported in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Reports said at least two homes sustained major damage.
Earlier Monday, at least five people were killed and almost two dozen were hurt when storms tore through Murray County on the Georgia-Tennessee border. The fatalities were in two mobile home parks near Chatsworth ), Georgia, Dwayne Bain, director of the Murray County Emergency Management Agency and fire chief, told the Daily Citizen-News.
In Bartow County , a 44 – year-old man was killed about 1 am Monday when a large tree crashed onto his home in Cartersville
In Tennessee, the Chattanooga Fire Department was responding to numerous weather-related calls , including damaged buildings and downed trees and power lines, after a tornado was reported east of the city late Sunday night. Serious damage was reported in East Brainerd and Ooltewah, Tennessee.
In Jefferson County, Arkansas, on Sunday, a person also died when a tree fell on a home. County Emergency Management Director Karen Blevins told weather.com the incident happened in the town of White Hall. Blevins said trees and power lines were down throughout the county and a handful of homes had been damaged.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed at least 18 people had been killed there: four in Jefferson Davis County, two in Jones, two in Lawrence, and one each in Carroll, Panola and Walthall counties.
At least five homes were Destroyed in Walthall County and other injuries were reported.
The Lawrence County victims were Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Ainsworth and his wife, Paula.
“Robert left this world a hero, as he shielded Mrs. Paula during the tornado, “the sheriff’s office said on Facebook.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency Sunday night.
“This is not how anyone wants to celebrate Easter Sunday,” Reeves said.
Two long-track tornadoes followed similar paths across parts of the state.
Photos showed the damage and severe weather in the Jones County town of Soso, where one resident told CNN she rode out the storm at the volunteer fire station, which sustained damage.
“All I had was my arms to put over my son and mother-in-law,” Candice Pitts said. “Was near a solid glass door that blew out and the roof in many places tore off or collapsed. My car was park (ed) under a shed that is now blown over in a yard nearby. It’s mangled.”
Earlier, damaging storms and possible tornadoes destroyed homes and businesses, toppled trees and knocked out electricity across several areas of Louisiana.
About homes were damaged or destroyed in Monroe, Louisiana, police Sgt. Chuck Johnson told the Weather Channel. The city was working to secure about 477 hotel rooms to shelter families who were displaced. They were trying to avoid housing large numbers of people in one place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Social distancing posed challenges for emergency officials as they opened shelters during the storm and considered where to house those affected after. Many handed out masks and gloves at storm shelters, while others decided not to open at all.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency.
“The images and reports of major tornado damage in the Monroe area are heartbreaking , and my prayers are with the People there. We are in contact with local officials in the area to provide support, “the governor said on Twitter.
There were no immediate reports of major injuries.
) “Pray for our city! Many neighbors & friends suffered catastrophic damage,” Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said on Twitter. “We are hurting; but not broken.”
The National Weather Service declared a tornado. emergency for Monroe in Ouachita Parish at am CDT. Doppler radar confirmed a large and destructive tornado was hitting parts of the city.
At least 29 homes were damaged in the Sunflower Subdivision of Monroe, According to a local media report to the National Weather Service.
A video on Facebook showed extensive damage. As a family walks out of a destroyed home, the video showed the front of the house had been ripped away and the living room and dining room were exposed to the rain.
The city of Monroe Twitter account said, “We have reports of wind (or tornado) damage in multiple locations in Monroe.” The city also posted photos of damage.
Images on social media showed several damaged planes and buildings ripped apart at Monroe Regional Airport.
Ron Phillips, director of the airport, said all flights were canceled until further notice. A hangar owned by AVFlight was heavily damaged, Phillips told the News Star, and he estimated there was $ 35 to $ 35 million worth of damage to the planes there.
Two semitractor-trailers reportedly blew over on Interstate 29 near US Highway .
Across the Ouachita River in West Monroe, Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell told the New Star that houses in her city “have been leveled.” She also said police safely rescued some people from their homes after they were trapped by falling trees.
About miles west of Monroe, dozens of trees sheared off in the story (blocked eastbound Interstate) , according to KSLA.
The Shreveport Times said the NWS reported tornadoes in four parishes earlier Sunday: Lincoln, Bienville, DeSoto and Webster parishes.
A Twitter user posted images of damage in Kingston, Louisiana, which is in DeSoto Parish. Mark Pierce, a spokesman for the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, told weather.com that multiple trees and power lines were down in Kingston and surrounding areas, and a few mobile homes w ere hit. A large tree was blocking U.S. Highway heading into Mansfield.
“We’ve had some pretty significant damage,” Pierce said.
He said the sheriff and road crews were still out assessing the impacts, but there had not been any reports of injuries.
(1 of) A damaged home is knocked into a road by a powerful storm that struck Upson County, Ga., Overnight. (Twitter / @ WXMolly)
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