Thaindian News

Apr 26 (THAINDIAN NEWS) According the the Associated Press “12 deaths from violent storms that rip through South; survival tales show toll could be worse.” Powerful storms spurned dozens of tornadoes across the South, causing the deaths of at least 12 people, and left behind a stunning tale of destruction and heartache, along with miracles and thankful hearts. Mississippi’s governor Haley Barbour’s description of what is left after the storm as “the obliteration of a small community.” Prayers for the families who lost loved ones, as well as any who may still be missing are appreciated.

According to officials, so far they have confirmed that there were 61 tornadoes which ripped through nine states as the severe storm system made it’s way across the south through Mississippi, and into Florida and South Carolina on Sunday. Here in south Georgia, there were dark clouds and rain, but no serious weather in my immediate area, thankfully. Over a hundred Mississippi homes are uninhabitable.

Over half of those tornadoes were reported in Mississippi, however and residents are thanking God for His protection in circumstances which based on the devastation, could have been much worse. “We just prayed the whole way through,” said Chatawa, Miss., resident Regina Weeks, who survived the tornadoes by huddling into a small bathroom with four of her relatives. “The tub area is the only place in our home where there is a ceiling on top of us,” she said. “Only place in house that didn’t have ceiling ripped off from on top of us.” With every part of their home completely shredded by the storm, the ceiling above the exact location where they were huddled remained intact.

Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers, who is a a Baptist deacon stated that he was in his truck when the twister picked it up and flipped it four times. Shivers says he told God that if it was his time to die, he was ready. He was taken to the hospital with bruised ribs and cuts, which were treated quickly, and he then went out in his hospital gown to help identify bodies.

“The roof was caving in, TVs flying off the shelves and it was horrible,” said Mitchell Saxton, the owner of Ribeye’s Steak House in Yazoo City. Those with him in the restaurant ran into a walk-in freezer to safety when they saw the tornado. Saxton’s restaurant was destroyed but no one was hurt there. “We got in the walk-in freezer, sat in there for about 10 minutes,” Saxton said. “When I came out it was really bad. Just thanking the good Lord I’m here and able to talk with you all.”

In Yazoo City, Dale Thrasher was all alone in the Hillcrest Babtist Church when the tornado hit. “The windows started blowing out, and I could hear the building cracking and shaking,” he said. He began to run for the fellowship hall, but felt led to change direction, and Thrasher took cover under a small table near the church pulpit as debris swirled around him. The church organ was tipped over, and the copier he was using just barely missed him. His only injury was a small cut on his hand. “The Lord just protected that little area,” he said. “I was praying,” he said. “It’s just like he put his arms around me, and that table and sheltered me from that storm.”