At a Glance
- At least 21 people died during tornadoes in Mississippi.
- An Alabama man died after a tornado flipped his mobile home.
- More than 100 homes and businesses were damaged in storms in Georgia.
Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.
Recovery efforts will continue today — and for months to come — in the tornado-ravaged parts of the South where more than two dozen people were killed.
Tornadoes, or suspected tornadoes, were reported in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia over the weekend.
(FORECAST: Flooding, Damaging Winds, Hail Possible From Severe Storms)
The storms killed 22 people in Mississippi and one in Alabama.
'There's Nothing Left'
Storms left a 100-plus-mile-long path of destruction in Mississippi Friday night. Tornadoes ripped through the communities of Rolling Fork, Silver City, Tchula, Winona and Amory. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said over the weekend that 25 people were killed, but that number was revised on Monday to 21. Dozens more were injured and 2,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Eldridge Walker, mayor of Rolling Fork, said the tornado devastated his town in Sharkey County.
“Sharkey County, Mississippi, is one of the poorest counties in the state of Mississippi, but we’re still resilient,” Walker said, according to the Associated Press. “We’ve got a long way to go, and we certainly thank everybody for their prayers and for anything they will do or can do for this community.”
Wonder Bolden stood outside what was left of her mother's mobile home in Rolling Rock.
“There’s nothing left,” Bolden said. “There’s just the breeze that’s running, going through — just nothing.”
Kimberly Berry, who lived outside Rolling Fork, said she and her 12-year-old daughter sought shelter in a church as the tornado ripped her home off its foundation.
“I didn’t hear nothing but my own self praying and God answering my prayer. I mean, I can get another house, another [piece of] furniture. But literally saving my life — I’m thankful,” she said.
President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for the state early Sunday, which means federal funding will be available for recovery efforts in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties.
Homes Destroyed In Georgia
At least five people received minor injuries in an apparent tornado Sunday morning in Troup County, Georgia, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Troup County Sheriff’s Office said 80 to 100 structures were damaged and 30 to 40 of those were destroyed, according to WSB-TV.
Areas affected by the storm included West Point, on the border with Alabama, and LaGrange, about 14 miles to the northeast.
Homes were destroyed and a church had extensive damage along West Point Road in LaGrange, according to WXIA.
LaGrange Mayor-Elect Willie Edmonson said some people had been trapped in their homes, but they were later rescued.
About 20 miles east of West Point, two tigers escaped their enclosure when the storm caused damage at the Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
“Both have now been found, tranquilized and safely returned to a secure enclosure,” the park said on Facebook. None of its employees or animals were hurt, it said.
Another possible tornado caused damage in Central Georgia's Baldwin County.
A strip shopping center had several stores damaged in the storm, according to WMAZ.
"My neighbor Tracy called me about 9:00-9:30. She said 'Malcolm, you need to get over here as quick as you can, the tornado hit.' We were just waking up. I said 'What? A tornado hit?'" Malcolm May, owner of T-Shirts-to-Go on North Columbia Street, told the TV station.
When he arrived at the shopping center, he saw shattered glass, scattered debris and the sign toppled over.
"Our building was dripping water, rain, but our stuff was intact. Our stuff wasn't damaged," May said.
Other shops weren't as lucky, with windows blown out and ceilings collapsed onto the merchandise below them.
Tracy Harper owns T's Boutique and Things where her merchandise was soaking wet.
"I'm just overwhelmed right now. I'm just overwhelmed," Harper told WMAZ. "People that I don't even know came from near and far to help me, so I'm very grateful."
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency.
One Death In Alabama
A 67-year-old man died after he was trapped under a mobile home that flipped during a tornado near Hartselle, according to the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency.
The man was pulled out of the mud but died later at a hospital, the Alabama News Network reported.
The National Weather Service said an EF2 tornado touched down in eastern Lawrence County before moving into Morgan County, causing damage in and around Hartselle.
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office said trees fell onto homes and into roadways. Most of the damage happened between Danville and Hartselle and in the Morgan City area, according to AL.com.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Lauderdale County, the NWS said. The tornado mostly caused damage to roofs. No injuries were reported.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
