Tornadoes and storms cause chaos in US Deep South
AT LEAST two “large and extremely dangerous” tornadoes barrelled through Georgia yesterday, causing widespread damage a day after 26 people were killed by storms in Mississippi.
One struck south of La Grange, the National Weather Service in Atlanta said, bringing with it tennis ball-sized hailstones and winds of up to 70mph. “Many buildings damaged, people trapped,” the Georgia Mutual Aid Group said.
In nearby West Point, roads, including Interstate Highway 85, were blocked by debris as the aid group warned: “If you do not have to get on the roads this morning please do not travel.”
Two tigers escaped their enclosures at a Georgia wildlife park, but were later found, while residents in Macon in the path of the funnel clouds were warned by the weather service: “You are in a life-threatening situation” and urged to “take cover now”.
More than 20million people living across the US’S southern states feared being hit by further storms after Mississippi was ravaged by tornadoes late on Friday.
As 4,800 customers remained without power in Mississippi, along with 11,000 homes and businesses in neighbouring Alabama, President Joe Biden yesterday declared an emergency in the state and ordered the release of a federal aid package to support recovery efforts. He described images emerging from the worst-hit areas as “heartbreaking”.
The package includes grants for temporary housing, home repairs and lowcost loans to cover uninsured property losses. “We will do everything we can to help. We will be there as long as it takes,” the president added.
But even as search and recovery work began, the National Weather Service warned that there was a risk of further severe weather – including high winds, large hailstones and possible tornadoes – in eastern Louisiana, south-central Mississippi and southcentral Alabama.