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| At Least 29 Are Killed as Tornadoes and Severe Weather Strike Southern States | At Least 29 Are Killed as Tornadoes and Severe Weather Strike Southern States |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Go here for the latest on the deadly storms. | |
| At least 29 people died as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms swept across the South on Sunday and early Monday, sowing destruction across at least six states, emergency officials said. | At least 29 people died as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms swept across the South on Sunday and early Monday, sowing destruction across at least six states, emergency officials said. |
| The devastating weather system started Sunday and barreled through the region into Monday, causing deaths, destroying homes and knocking out power to thousands of people, meteorologists and officials said. | The devastating weather system started Sunday and barreled through the region into Monday, causing deaths, destroying homes and knocking out power to thousands of people, meteorologists and officials said. |
| Its “bull’s-eye” encircled a swath of the South and brought tornadoes, high winds and intense rain into parts of southern Kentucky, eastern Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, said Katie Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. | Its “bull’s-eye” encircled a swath of the South and brought tornadoes, high winds and intense rain into parts of southern Kentucky, eastern Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, said Katie Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. |
| “It was one coherent system with different features within it,” she said. “We don’t get this level of a threat very often. It was a very turbulent past 24 hours.” | “It was one coherent system with different features within it,” she said. “We don’t get this level of a threat very often. It was a very turbulent past 24 hours.” |
| The system, still carrying severe thunderstorms, had largely moved into South Carolina and then off the Eastern Seaboard before noon Monday, she said. There was a risk of damaging winds and several tornadoes in parts of the Mid-Atlantic region and into southeast New York through the rest of Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. | The system, still carrying severe thunderstorms, had largely moved into South Carolina and then off the Eastern Seaboard before noon Monday, she said. There was a risk of damaging winds and several tornadoes in parts of the Mid-Atlantic region and into southeast New York through the rest of Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. |
| Mississippi on Monday reported the most deaths of any state. The state’s emergency management agency said that at least 11 people had been confirmed dead. | Mississippi on Monday reported the most deaths of any state. The state’s emergency management agency said that at least 11 people had been confirmed dead. |
| Several hundred homes were damaged and more than 72,000 customers lost power across 18 counties, the agency said in a statement. “This is not how anyone wants to celebrate Easter Sunday,” Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, a Republican, said in a statement as he declared a state of emergency. | Several hundred homes were damaged and more than 72,000 customers lost power across 18 counties, the agency said in a statement. “This is not how anyone wants to celebrate Easter Sunday,” Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, a Republican, said in a statement as he declared a state of emergency. |
| Among the dead were a Mississippi sheriff’s deputy, Robert Ainsworth, and his wife, Paula, a deputy court clerk, according to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. “Robert left this world a hero, as he shielded Mrs. Paula during the tornado,” the sheriff’s office in Lawrence County, Miss., said on its Facebook page. | Among the dead were a Mississippi sheriff’s deputy, Robert Ainsworth, and his wife, Paula, a deputy court clerk, according to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. “Robert left this world a hero, as he shielded Mrs. Paula during the tornado,” the sheriff’s office in Lawrence County, Miss., said on its Facebook page. |
| In Georgia, at least six people were killed after a tornado swept through a mobile home park in Murray County, and one person died in Bartow County in the northwest of the state, Lisa Rodriguez-Presley, a spokeswoman for the state emergency management authorities, said on Monday. A total of eight people in Georgia died in the storms, according to The Associated Press. About 49 people were injured and 23 homes were destroyed, but the authorities have hundreds more residences to assess, Ms. Rodriguez-Presley said. | In Georgia, at least six people were killed after a tornado swept through a mobile home park in Murray County, and one person died in Bartow County in the northwest of the state, Lisa Rodriguez-Presley, a spokeswoman for the state emergency management authorities, said on Monday. A total of eight people in Georgia died in the storms, according to The Associated Press. About 49 people were injured and 23 homes were destroyed, but the authorities have hundreds more residences to assess, Ms. Rodriguez-Presley said. |
| When Alexandria Vargas, 30, got an alert on her phone around 9 p.m. warning about a possible tornado in her neighborhood in Chatsworth, Ga., the skies had already turned green and debris was in the air. Within hours, the tornado was upon the neighborhood, hitting the nearby hills before tearing through and jumping over Ms. Vargas’s house with an overwhelming roar. | When Alexandria Vargas, 30, got an alert on her phone around 9 p.m. warning about a possible tornado in her neighborhood in Chatsworth, Ga., the skies had already turned green and debris was in the air. Within hours, the tornado was upon the neighborhood, hitting the nearby hills before tearing through and jumping over Ms. Vargas’s house with an overwhelming roar. |
| “Like a train derailing,” Ms. Vargas described it. “Shook the entire house. And you could hear trees snapping and debris hitting the roof.” | “Like a train derailing,” Ms. Vargas described it. “Shook the entire house. And you could hear trees snapping and debris hitting the roof.” |
| Her house and others nearby were spared serious damage, she said. But shingles were torn off the roof and trees blocked the roads in the neighborhood. | Her house and others nearby were spared serious damage, she said. But shingles were torn off the roof and trees blocked the roads in the neighborhood. |
| Ms. Martin, the meteorologist, said that the service had detected at least 15 tornado signatures on its radar early on Monday. Parts of Tennessee and Arkansas were also hit by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on Monday, the National Weather Service said. | Ms. Martin, the meteorologist, said that the service had detected at least 15 tornado signatures on its radar early on Monday. Parts of Tennessee and Arkansas were also hit by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on Monday, the National Weather Service said. |
| In Arkansas, at least one storm-related death was confirmed in Jefferson County, Melody Daniel, a state emergency management spokeswoman said on Monday. | In Arkansas, at least one storm-related death was confirmed in Jefferson County, Melody Daniel, a state emergency management spokeswoman said on Monday. |
| Nine people were killed in South Carolina. In Seneca, S.C., a security guard at a BorgWarner production plant was killed when the building where he was stationed collapsed around 3:30 a.m. Monday, according to Karl Addis, the Oconee County coroner. The man, Jack Harvill, 77, was employed by American Security and died from blunt force traumatic injuries. | Nine people were killed in South Carolina. In Seneca, S.C., a security guard at a BorgWarner production plant was killed when the building where he was stationed collapsed around 3:30 a.m. Monday, according to Karl Addis, the Oconee County coroner. The man, Jack Harvill, 77, was employed by American Security and died from blunt force traumatic injuries. |
| A 61-year-old woman in Davidson County, N.C., died Monday morning after a tree fell on her mobile home, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. | A 61-year-old woman in Davidson County, N.C., died Monday morning after a tree fell on her mobile home, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. |
| Pockets of the South awoke on Sunday to thunderous rain, squalls and lightning as a storm made its way across East Texas and into northern Louisiana, where a tornado damaged houses and commercial buildings. | Pockets of the South awoke on Sunday to thunderous rain, squalls and lightning as a storm made its way across East Texas and into northern Louisiana, where a tornado damaged houses and commercial buildings. |
| The warnings about the severe weather intensified throughout the day. The Weather Service in Jackson, Miss., received several reports of tornadoes, and at least two of them prompted “tornado emergency” warnings, which are issued only for “dangerous tornadoes that could produce catastrophic damage,” said John Moore III, a meteorologist with the service. | The warnings about the severe weather intensified throughout the day. The Weather Service in Jackson, Miss., received several reports of tornadoes, and at least two of them prompted “tornado emergency” warnings, which are issued only for “dangerous tornadoes that could produce catastrophic damage,” said John Moore III, a meteorologist with the service. |
| Officials could not know the tornadoes’ exact paths or strengths until teams could be sent to survey the damage in the coming days, but radar did pick up a clue: debris lift. | Officials could not know the tornadoes’ exact paths or strengths until teams could be sent to survey the damage in the coming days, but radar did pick up a clue: debris lift. |
| “That’s how we’re able to tell that the tornadoes were actually on the ground,” Mr. Moore said. “We could see on radar it was lifting debris up into the atmosphere, some even 5,000 feet.” | “That’s how we’re able to tell that the tornadoes were actually on the ground,” Mr. Moore said. “We could see on radar it was lifting debris up into the atmosphere, some even 5,000 feet.” |
| Images posted on social media showed destroyed structures and lawns covered in debris. | Images posted on social media showed destroyed structures and lawns covered in debris. |
| The tornadoes were produced by severe thunderstorms, Mr. Moore said. “April is our primary severe weather season for Mississippi,” he said. These types of storms are typically seen this time of the year, he added, but strong tornadoes anywhere are rare. | The tornadoes were produced by severe thunderstorms, Mr. Moore said. “April is our primary severe weather season for Mississippi,” he said. These types of storms are typically seen this time of the year, he added, but strong tornadoes anywhere are rare. |
| The tornadoes in South Mississippi started in Walthall County, and moved northeast into Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, said Kelly Richardson, a representative for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. | The tornadoes in South Mississippi started in Walthall County, and moved northeast into Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, said Kelly Richardson, a representative for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. |
| “The two most devastating tornadoes today followed a very similar path, one right after the other,” she said. | “The two most devastating tornadoes today followed a very similar path, one right after the other,” she said. |
| Jefferson Davis County had four deaths, the most in the state, the authorities said on Monday. Pat Courtney, the mayor of Bassfield, a town of fewer than 400 people in the county, said three tornadoes had torn through the area, upending trailers, and that there had been deaths. | Jefferson Davis County had four deaths, the most in the state, the authorities said on Monday. Pat Courtney, the mayor of Bassfield, a town of fewer than 400 people in the county, said three tornadoes had torn through the area, upending trailers, and that there had been deaths. |
| She said the area would need the state’s help. “It’s hard hit,” she said. “Trees are down everywhere in every direction, they’re just matted everywhere. It’s awful.” | She said the area would need the state’s help. “It’s hard hit,” she said. “Trees are down everywhere in every direction, they’re just matted everywhere. It’s awful.” |
| Bill Bunting, the chief of forecast operations at the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, said severe weather had been anticipated for about five days. | Bill Bunting, the chief of forecast operations at the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, said severe weather had been anticipated for about five days. |
| “Unfortunately, it has played out like we feared,” he said. “All of the ingredients, all the conditions that we look for when we’re forecasting tornadoes and strong tornadoes, were in place.” | “Unfortunately, it has played out like we feared,” he said. “All of the ingredients, all the conditions that we look for when we’re forecasting tornadoes and strong tornadoes, were in place.” |
| But officials could not know exactly when or where tornadoes might form. In Monroe, in northeast Louisiana, a tornado touched down on Sunday, destroying houses and damaging planes and structures at a regional airport. | But officials could not know exactly when or where tornadoes might form. In Monroe, in northeast Louisiana, a tornado touched down on Sunday, destroying houses and damaging planes and structures at a regional airport. |
| One resident, Sahmeka DeBurr, 38, said she heard what sounded like someone pounding the walls of her house just after noon. She thought her 12-year-old son was playing in the next room, but then she heard a window shatter. | One resident, Sahmeka DeBurr, 38, said she heard what sounded like someone pounding the walls of her house just after noon. She thought her 12-year-old son was playing in the next room, but then she heard a window shatter. |
| “My son came in the room and said he was scared, and the lights went out,” Ms. DeBurr said. “I woke everyone up and we ran in the bathroom and closed the door.” | “My son came in the room and said he was scared, and the lights went out,” Ms. DeBurr said. “I woke everyone up and we ran in the bathroom and closed the door.” |
| Ms. DeBurr said the tornado lasted only a few minutes. When she went outside to assess the damage, she said, she saw her neighbors’ roof on the ground, a flipped car and collapsed carports on her street. | Ms. DeBurr said the tornado lasted only a few minutes. When she went outside to assess the damage, she said, she saw her neighbors’ roof on the ground, a flipped car and collapsed carports on her street. |
| “I’m thanking God,” she said. “Everyone ran outside in the rain, ignoring the quarantine, just trying to figure out if everyone was OK.” | “I’m thanking God,” she said. “Everyone ran outside in the rain, ignoring the quarantine, just trying to figure out if everyone was OK.” |
| Daniel Huckaby, a Weather Service meteorologist in Fort Worth, said the region could have also expected “large hail” in addition to the destructive winds and tornadoes. The hail could be larger than golf balls, and the winds could exceed 80 miles per hour, he said. | Daniel Huckaby, a Weather Service meteorologist in Fort Worth, said the region could have also expected “large hail” in addition to the destructive winds and tornadoes. The hail could be larger than golf balls, and the winds could exceed 80 miles per hour, he said. |
| Warm and humid air flowing to the Deep South and strong winds are the perfect ingredients to produce severe weather, he said. “This is not unusual this time of year in the South,” Mr. Huckaby said. In the event of a dangerous storm, he advised, “Everyone in the Deep South should keep alert and move to an interior room on the lowest floor.” | Warm and humid air flowing to the Deep South and strong winds are the perfect ingredients to produce severe weather, he said. “This is not unusual this time of year in the South,” Mr. Huckaby said. In the event of a dangerous storm, he advised, “Everyone in the Deep South should keep alert and move to an interior room on the lowest floor.” |
| Jenny Gross and Mariel Padilla contributed reporting. | Jenny Gross and Mariel Padilla contributed reporting. |