This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/us/severe-weather-tornado-south-forecast.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Large Tornado Rips Through Mississippi Large Tornado Rips Through Mississippi
(1 day later)
Follow the latest news on tornadoes in the South.
Emergency workers were surveying the damage from a large tornado that ripped through rural Mississippi on Friday night, flattening homes and trapping some residents.Emergency workers were surveying the damage from a large tornado that ripped through rural Mississippi on Friday night, flattening homes and trapping some residents.
The tornado caused damage in Rolling Fork and Silver City, Miss., the National Weather Service office in Jackson said on Twitter. The agency issued rare tornado emergencies for parts of the state Friday night, indicating a life-threatening situation, along with tornado warnings in parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.The tornado caused damage in Rolling Fork and Silver City, Miss., the National Weather Service office in Jackson said on Twitter. The agency issued rare tornado emergencies for parts of the state Friday night, indicating a life-threatening situation, along with tornado warnings in parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The center of the destruction appeared to be in Rolling Fork, where Fred Miller, a former mayor, said that a storm had blown out windows and damaged homes and trees.The center of the destruction appeared to be in Rolling Fork, where Fred Miller, a former mayor, said that a storm had blown out windows and damaged homes and trees.
“A great deal of the town has been destroyed,” including all the businesses on a commercial and retail stretch of a local road, Mr. Miller said in an interview on Fox Weather. “People are trapped in a couple of the eateries, and people are trying to get them out now.”“A great deal of the town has been destroyed,” including all the businesses on a commercial and retail stretch of a local road, Mr. Miller said in an interview on Fox Weather. “People are trapped in a couple of the eateries, and people are trying to get them out now.”
Aaron Rigsby, a videographer and storm chaser who filmed the tornado, said in an interview that he had watched it develop from a “small cone” into a “massive wedge.”Aaron Rigsby, a videographer and storm chaser who filmed the tornado, said in an interview that he had watched it develop from a “small cone” into a “massive wedge.”
After the tornado hit Rolling Fork, Mr. Rigsby said, he went door to door through the town, rescuing people who were trapped in their vehicles or homes, including a woman who had been buried by rubble.After the tornado hit Rolling Fork, Mr. Rigsby said, he went door to door through the town, rescuing people who were trapped in their vehicles or homes, including a woman who had been buried by rubble.
“The town took a direct hit,” he said, adding that it had taken ambulances at least 30 minutes to arrive in Rolling Fork because the area is so rural.“The town took a direct hit,” he said, adding that it had taken ambulances at least 30 minutes to arrive in Rolling Fork because the area is so rural.
Rolling Fork is a town of about 2,000 in the Mississippi Delta nestled between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers that was home to the blues singer Muddy Waters. Its residents live with the risk of flooding should the backwater levees along the Yazoo fail.Rolling Fork is a town of about 2,000 in the Mississippi Delta nestled between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers that was home to the blues singer Muddy Waters. Its residents live with the risk of flooding should the backwater levees along the Yazoo fail.
About 30 percent of the residences in Sharkey County are mobile homes or housing other than homes or apartments, according to a 2021 survey by the federal Census Bureau. A fifth of the residents of Rolling Fork, which is predominantly Black, are under the federal poverty line.About 30 percent of the residences in Sharkey County are mobile homes or housing other than homes or apartments, according to a 2021 survey by the federal Census Bureau. A fifth of the residents of Rolling Fork, which is predominantly Black, are under the federal poverty line.
There were several unconfirmed reports of deaths in Rolling Fork. But Malary White, the chief communications officer for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said on Friday night that there were no official damage assessments or injury reports yet.There were several unconfirmed reports of deaths in Rolling Fork. But Malary White, the chief communications officer for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said on Friday night that there were no official damage assessments or injury reports yet.
Ms. White said state search-and-rescue resources were being sent to Sharkey County, and that the agency was assessing the needs of people affected by the tornado and would begin to survey the damage in the daylight. She added that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had been alerted.Ms. White said state search-and-rescue resources were being sent to Sharkey County, and that the agency was assessing the needs of people affected by the tornado and would begin to survey the damage in the daylight. She added that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had been alerted.
Rain and high winds were still whipping through the area early Saturday. By about 3 a.m., earlier tornado watches for more than a million people in Alabama and Tennessee had mostly expired, but more than 100,000 electricity customers in those two states and in Mississippi were without power, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.Rain and high winds were still whipping through the area early Saturday. By about 3 a.m., earlier tornado watches for more than a million people in Alabama and Tennessee had mostly expired, but more than 100,000 electricity customers in those two states and in Mississippi were without power, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us.
In Mississippi, many of the outages were in Sharkey and Montgomery counties. An officer who answered the phone at the Sharkey County Sheriff’s Office in Rolling Fork early Saturday said that the power in the building was off.In Mississippi, many of the outages were in Sharkey and Montgomery counties. An officer who answered the phone at the Sharkey County Sheriff’s Office in Rolling Fork early Saturday said that the power in the building was off.
“Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight,” Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi said on Twitter, adding that search and rescue teams were working in the area, as was medical support. “Watch weather reports and stay cautious through the night, Mississippi!”“Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight,” Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi said on Twitter, adding that search and rescue teams were working in the area, as was medical support. “Watch weather reports and stay cautious through the night, Mississippi!”
In Rolling Fork, Mayor Eldridge Walker told a local television station on Friday that he could not leave his house because of downed power lines. He said its garage and west side had been seriously damaged.In Rolling Fork, Mayor Eldridge Walker told a local television station on Friday that he could not leave his house because of downed power lines. He said its garage and west side had been seriously damaged.
He told the station, WLBT-TV, that people had been injured, though he did not specify a number and asked that people continue to shelter in place while emergency responders arrived.He told the station, WLBT-TV, that people had been injured, though he did not specify a number and asked that people continue to shelter in place while emergency responders arrived.
Jerry Briggs, an emergency coordinator in nearby Warren County, said late Friday that he had no information about damage or casualties in Rolling Fork.Jerry Briggs, an emergency coordinator in nearby Warren County, said late Friday that he had no information about damage or casualties in Rolling Fork.
It was not immediately clear which other areas of Mississippi or nearby states had been hard hit by the storm.It was not immediately clear which other areas of Mississippi or nearby states had been hard hit by the storm.
After the tornado hit Rolling Fork, the National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tenn., said on Friday night that it was monitoring a tornado as it approached the town of Smithville, Miss. Todd Beal, a meteorologist at that office, said he was not sure whether it was the same tornado.After the tornado hit Rolling Fork, the National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tenn., said on Friday night that it was monitoring a tornado as it approached the town of Smithville, Miss. Todd Beal, a meteorologist at that office, said he was not sure whether it was the same tornado.
Severe weather season in the South reaches its peak during March, April and May, meteorologists said.Severe weather season in the South reaches its peak during March, April and May, meteorologists said.
Earlier this month, powerful storms swept across the South, leaving at least 12 people dead and hundreds of thousands of customers without electricity. Heavy rain, severe winds and tornadoes damaged homes in at least eight states.Earlier this month, powerful storms swept across the South, leaving at least 12 people dead and hundreds of thousands of customers without electricity. Heavy rain, severe winds and tornadoes damaged homes in at least eight states.
At the end of February, tornadoes injured at least a dozen people in Oklahoma.At the end of February, tornadoes injured at least a dozen people in Oklahoma.
Johnny Diaz, Victoria Kim, Chris Mele and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.Johnny Diaz, Victoria Kim, Chris Mele and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed reporting.