Storms in South leave 1 person dead

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — A cluster of severe storms swept across Southern states early Saturday, leaving at least one person dead in Louisiana, toppling trees and power lines in Mississippi, dropping large hail on a coastal Alabama city and leveling buildings in the Florida Panhandle.

St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard confirmed a fatality related to an early morning tornado in Palmetto, La. Bellard said Jose Antonio Higareda, 27, was killed when the tornado struck his home. In addition, he said, seven people were injured and transported to hospitals.

The National Weather Service has said the tornado that hit the area was ranked an EF3, with wind speeds between 130 and 140 mph.

In Mississippi, a possible tornado ripped down power lines and trees in Rankin County, but no injuries were reported.

In Panama City Beach, Fla., a home and convenience store were leveled by a possible tornado, city officials said in a Facebook post.

In Pensacola, Fla, the roof of a downtown brewery was ripped off by the storm, local news reports show. The National Weather Service has not confirmed that was caused by a tornado, but it reported winds of up to 60 mph.

“We are still learning about what exactly the damage is and what is going on,” Veronique Zayas, co-owner of Emerald Republic Brewing, told the The Pensacola News Journal. “But we know that the roof is a total loss. There is water damage throughout, and a lot of equipment has been damaged.”

Storms also produced heavy rain in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.