Twisters slam Mississippi injuring 17 and damaging more than 300 homes during Tornado Emergency
Several tornadoes spawned by supercell thunderstorms ripped through central, west and southern Mississippi Wednesday evening, triggering a tornado emergency. Officials said that several people have been injured and homes have been destroyed across several counties, but no deaths have been confirmed.
JACKSON, Miss. — Several tornadoes spawned by supercell thunderstorms ripped through central, west and southern Mississippi Wednesday evening, triggering a tornado emergency. Governor Tate Reeves said that 17 people have been injured and more than 300 homes have been damaged across several counties, but no deaths have been confirmed.
Gov. Reeves said Thursday that multiple roads remain closed and shelters are open for displaced families.
More than 19,000 customers were without power across the state early Thursday.
Some of the most significant damage has been reported across Lincoln, Lamar and Franklin counties, with more than 200 homes damaged in Lincolnd County alone.
Lincoln County Emergency Management officials told FOX Weather that while severe storms caused major damage and several injuries, no deaths have been confirmed and no one is missing.
Drone video from Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, showed extensive damage to a trailer home community.
Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing told FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell that it took some emergency crews over two hours to reach the community Wednesday night due to the extent of the debris.
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Rushing said there were 24 homes in the area, but just one was left unscathed.
"God's great; he was overlooking this place," Rushing told Campbell, thankful that there were no deaths in the immediate area.
Lamar County Emergency Management officials warned people to stay away from the city of Purvis due to tornado damage and downed power lines. Video from Purvis showed homes with roofs torn off and cars that were completely crushed.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has scheduled damage survey crews to determine the strength of the tornadoes later Thursday.
A Tornado Emergency was first issued for parts of Adams and Franklin counties, just after 7 p.m. local time.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received at least 14 reports of tornado damage.
Severe storms generated large hail across the region, including reports of hail up to 2.75 inches in diameter in Waugh, Alabama, and Tucker, Mississippi.
A Tornado Watch remained in effect for southern Alabama, southern Georgia and parts of the Florida Panhandle through 9 a.m. Thursday.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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