Latest weather reports have revealed that several tornadoes have appeared in the southern part of the United States today. Officials confirmed that at least two were dead and several others were hurt after a tornado hit Mississippi. Marion County Coroner Norma Williamson however is still not sure how the victims died.
Additional reports revealed that two more deaths were confirmed in Jones Country. Local Sheriff Alex Hodge said that the tornado have swept and destroyed the victims mobile home thus destroying it and killing the two victims.
In total, five tornadoes were recorded in Mississippi. Georgia and Louisiana also recorded a tornado in their area.
Jackson, Mississippi's National Weather Service reported of widespread damage in the affected areas. Most of these damages are structural. Among the badly hit area was in Columbia where a mobile home park was damaged. Assessment is still undergoing to find out the exact damage done by the tornado.
Fire Captain Terry Hamilton of Columbia stated in an interview "We have heavy damage into a mobile home park that has 40 plus mobile homes, completely totaled and damaged and having patients being cut out Jaws of Life now." The Columbia fire captain added that there might be holiday shoppers who are still trapped inside Walmart and other unspecified stores.
State of emergency has already been levied on affected areas especially Marion and Jones County. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant issued the state of emergency in order to prevent further damage and to mobilize all government agencies in order to help those affected by the tornado.
The tornado brought damaged a wide area of power grid causing local power companies to cut off power to more than 6,300 customers within Marion County alone. Additional 935 customers were affected of the power interruption in Jones County.
Officials in Amite, Louisiana also reported a tornado in their area. Several homes were damaged including Fire Chief's Bruce Cutrer's house. No Reports of death or injury were reported.
