Heavy storm moving toward US East Coast leaves 17 dead
April 17th, 2011 - 12:26 pm ICT by IANSWashington, April 17 (IANS/EFE) Powerful storms moving toward the northern part of the US East Coast have left 17 dead and have caused widespread damage.
A continuing threat of storms and tornadoes is expected in the southeastern and midwestern sections of the US Saturday as the storm system moves to the northeast.
Georgia authorities issued a tornado watch Saturday before dawn after storms raging through the state toppled trees and electricity pylons. Rain, hail and gusts of wind of up to 112 km per hour are forecast.
The storm system that started in the central part of the country had by Friday reached the southeastern states: northern Mississippi and Alabama and central Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency after receiving information that several tornadoes had touched down in at least six counties, CNN said.
In Sumpter and Marengo Counties, several people were injured and the storms left one person dead.
Police reported another three deaths in Autauga County when trees blown down by the strong winds crashed onto mobile homes.
The spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, Yasamie August, said that another three people were killed in Washington County.
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado emergency in Alabama for the cities of Geiger, Panola, New West Green and Pleasant Ridge.
According to CNN, authorities were concerned Friday about an auto race to be held at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, where a tornado watch was in force and where 30,000 people were camped in tents and trailers to watch the races over the weekend.
By Saturday, however, the bad weather had backed off and car-racing fans were allowed into the Superspeedway.
The storm has caused damages near the town of Yarbo, Alabama, and also in Mississippi, where a tornado emergency was declared in 14 counties, including Greene County where one person was killed and another six were injured.
The city of Clinton, Mississippi, suffered damages from a tornado touchdown, which damaged at least 20 vehicles, though according to Mayor Rosemary Aultman, no one was hurt.
Authorities had already reported the death of two people in Oklahoma and seven in Arkansas.
Five of those killed in Arkansas, including two children, died when trees were blown down on their homes by strong winds.
Firefighters found a woman, 34, in bed with her 7-year-old son, whom she was apparently trying to protect from the storm. Both were crushed by a giant oak.
–IANS/EFE
rd
- Tornadoes sweep through south US, 17 dead - Apr 16, 2011
- Storms kill at least 47 across US - Apr 18, 2011
- Obama visits area devastated by deadly tornados - Apr 30, 2011
- 32 killed as tornadoes rip US (Third Lead) - Mar 04, 2012
- Tornados hit US' South & Midwest - Jan 23, 2012
- Storms leave nearly 300 as dead in southern US (Lead) - Apr 29, 2011
- 28 die as tornadoes rip US (Second Lead) - Mar 03, 2012
- Search for victims after deadly tornadoes in US - Mar 05, 2012
- Seven killed in US tornado (Lead) - Apr 25, 2010
- Mississippi Tornado Ravages More Than 13 Counties - Apr 25, 2010
- Tornadoes and severe storms in southern U.S. leave around 200 dead - Apr 28, 2011
- About 250 feared dead in southern US storms - Apr 29, 2011
- Nine killed as tornadoes, storms hit US - Apr 16, 2011
- 10 killed in giant tornado in US (Second Lead) - Apr 25, 2010
- Storms leave 100,000 without power in Michigan - May 31, 2011
Tags: alabama emergency management agency, alabama gov, auto race, bad weather, car racing fans, central tennessee, cnn, electricity pylons, emergency management agency, gusts of wind, national weather service, northern mississippi, pleasant ridge, powerful storms, rain hail, robert bentley, storm system, talladega superspeedway, tornado watch, yarbo alabama