Tornadoes Rip Through Southeast US Killing at Least Seven

Tens of thousands of people were without power, and homes were destroyed in Alabama and Georgia as Tornadoes ripped through the both states.

WSJ Print Edition reported today that several people had been killed in Alabama and Georgia as severe storms and tornadoes destroyed homes and uprooted trees across the Southeast U.S.

A series of tornadoes ripped through central Alabama on Thursday, killing six, Gov. Kay Ivey said. According to the Associated Press, in Autauga County, Ala., 41 miles northeast of Selma, at least six fatalities were confirmed, and an estimated 40 homes were damaged or destroyed by a tornado.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered his condolences to the family of a 6-year-old girl who was killed in Jackson when a tree fell on the car she was travelling in.

Both states declared a state of emergency as crews began rescue operations.

“We have already seen parts of the state rattled by this severe weather system, which is why I have issued a state of emergency for six of our counties that were in the path of Mother Nature’s wrath,” reported Ms Ivey to Barron’s News.

According to the tracking site, tens of thousands of customers were without electricity across Alabama and Georgia early Friday.

According to a Georgia Power Outage Map, the thousands of residents that are without power include 5,675 in Henry County, 1,965 in Liberty County, 1,480 in Clayton County, 826 in Morgan County, 721 in Spalding County, 712 in Coweta County, 664 in Tift County, 580 in Monroe County, 471 in Gwinnett County, and 461 in Butts County.

Cobb Fire and Emergency Services crews spent much of the afternoon surveying damage and clearing roadways blocked by fallen trees in the metro Atlanta area.

“Throughout this evening, Marty’s and my thoughts will return to those impacted by today’s severe storms and tornadoes,” Kemp said Thursday afternoon, referencing his wife, First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp.

He added: “I have declared a State of Emergency and ordered all relevant agencies to respond with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the affected communities.”

FEMA has begun mobilising personnel to the area to assist local authorities with the FEMA Disaster Inspection. CAMREO is helping banks with AVMs and property onsight damage reports.