A powerful storm system that spawned tornadoes in the South Sunday and Monday has killed at least 33 people, authorities say. PowerOutage.US said the storms left almost 1.3 million people without power from Texas to Maine Monday afternoon.
The big picture: It was the deadliest tornado outbreak since 35 people were killed in the central and southern U.S. in April 2014, per NOAA. The storms struck as many were under stay-at-home orders and other restrictions imposed in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Our Area Coordinator captured this drone footage of the devastating damage in Jefferson Davis County following yesterday's severe weather outbreak. pic.twitter.com/cfkl6Z4yVt
— msema (@MSEMA) April 13, 2020
- The system brought with it damaging gusts of wind, hail and heavy rain, causing flash flooding in some places, prompting the governors of Mississippi, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana to declare states of emergency.
The state of play: In Mississippi, the Emergency Management Agency said in a statement on Monday the severe weather had killed 11 people and left more than 72,000 customers without power in the state.
- South Carolina Gov. Gov. Henry McMaster told a news conference nine people lost their lives in the storm.
- In Georgia, seven people died when a tornado ripped through Murray County, officials said. A man died in Bartow County when a tree fell on his bedroom, a coroner told local media.
- Tennessee officials said three people were killed, per AP.
- Arkansas reported one death from a falling tree and a trail of destruction after a tornado struck there, officials told local media.
- In North Carolina, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said a woman died when a tree fell on her in the storms, AP reports.
- In Pennsylvania, stormes downed trees across the state, AP notes.
Our Area Coordinator captured these photos in Walthall County of the damage from the Easter severe weather pic.twitter.com/8aBuc8ZQjb
— msema (@MSEMA) April 13, 2020
Here’s a look at some of the damage in Jones County pic.twitter.com/4Ee0K3RGYe
— msema (@MSEMA) April 13, 2020
On the ground in Murray County, surveying the damage from yesterday’s storms. Our prayers are with the people who were affected and the families who lost loved ones. We’ve got your back, and we will get through this together. #gapol pic.twitter.com/Iiss4zl55v
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 13, 2020
Due to weather conditions and debris removal from the runways, Mayor Jamie Mayo and Monroe Regional Airport Director Ron Phillips announce “all flights at the Monroe Regional Airport are cancelled until further notice.” pic.twitter.com/Kw4zWNRtZT
— City of Monroe, LA (@CityofMonroe) April 12, 2020
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
