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| Deadly US tornadoes hit Alabama | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tornadoes have killed at least seven people in the US state of Alabama. | |
| One tornado wrecked a school building in the town of Enterprise, killing at least five people and injuring dozens as it tore off a roof and flipped cars. | |
| State officials had earlier said as many as 15 people could have died at the school. Rescuers continue to search for anyone trapped in the debris. | |
| President George W Bush has offered federal help to the states of Alabama and Missouri. | President George W Bush has offered federal help to the states of Alabama and Missouri. |
| The US Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a rare "major severe weather outbreak" warning for the eastern third of the US for the next 24 hours. | The US Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a rare "major severe weather outbreak" warning for the eastern third of the US for the next 24 hours. |
| 'Major damage' | 'Major damage' |
| Antoinette Konz, of the local Montgomery Advertiser newspaper, told the BBC that the tornado had struck Enterprise just as pupils were about to be sent home. | Antoinette Konz, of the local Montgomery Advertiser newspaper, told the BBC that the tornado had struck Enterprise just as pupils were about to be sent home. |
| In pictures: Alabama town hit | In pictures: Alabama town hit |
| "We talked to several parents who had just pulled up to the school and walked in the door and that's when everybody told them to 'Get down, get down, get down - it's coming'. | "We talked to several parents who had just pulled up to the school and walked in the door and that's when everybody told them to 'Get down, get down, get down - it's coming'. |
| "And the next thing they knew, everything was gone." | "And the next thing they knew, everything was gone." |
| Alabama Governor Bob Riley has declared a state of emergency and sent 100 National Guard troops to the town. | Alabama Governor Bob Riley has declared a state of emergency and sent 100 National Guard troops to the town. |
| "Enterprise has suffered major and widespread damage," he said. | "Enterprise has suffered major and widespread damage," he said. |
| State emergency official Yasamie Richardson warned that the death toll could still rise as rescue crews continued to search for survivors at the school. | |
| She said that miscommunication and confusion at the scene were to blame for the higher number of casualties reported earlier. | |
| Other deaths were reported elsewhere in the state, including the town of Millers Ferry. | |
| Whiteouts | Whiteouts |
| A seven-year-old girl was reported to have been killed as some of the first tornadoes touched down in Missouri around dawn on Thursday. | A seven-year-old girl was reported to have been killed as some of the first tornadoes touched down in Missouri around dawn on Thursday. |
| Tornadoes have also been reported in Arkansas and Kansas, damaging houses, mobile homes and service stations, and an electricity substation in Linn County on the Missouri-Kansas border. | Tornadoes have also been reported in Arkansas and Kansas, damaging houses, mobile homes and service stations, and an electricity substation in Linn County on the Missouri-Kansas border. |
| Linn County Sheriff Marvin Stites said some people had been forced to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere, but that "we're still small enough where neighbour takes care of neighbour". | Linn County Sheriff Marvin Stites said some people had been forced to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere, but that "we're still small enough where neighbour takes care of neighbour". |
| The severe weather formed a band of storms stretching from Minnesota in the north to Louisiana on the Gulf Coast. | The severe weather formed a band of storms stretching from Minnesota in the north to Louisiana on the Gulf Coast. |
| It has moved from the west, where it has already dumped several feet of snow from Washington state to Colorado, but is now being fuelled by moist air being sucked up from the Gulf of Mexico. | It has moved from the west, where it has already dumped several feet of snow from Washington state to Colorado, but is now being fuelled by moist air being sucked up from the Gulf of Mexico. |
| The SPC said severe weather was now likely "across the lower Ohio valley, lower and mid-Mississippi valley, eastward across the Gulf and Atlantic coastal states". | The SPC said severe weather was now likely "across the lower Ohio valley, lower and mid-Mississippi valley, eastward across the Gulf and Atlantic coastal states". |
| It also forecast tornadoes "some of which may be strong and long-tracked... especially across eastern Mississippi and Alabama". | It also forecast tornadoes "some of which may be strong and long-tracked... especially across eastern Mississippi and Alabama". |
| Jack Hales, lead forecaster at the SPC in Norman, Oklahoma, said it was unusual to issue a warning for such a large area. | Jack Hales, lead forecaster at the SPC in Norman, Oklahoma, said it was unusual to issue a warning for such a large area. |
| However, "it is very difficult to predict where long-track tornadoes will form", he told BBC News. | However, "it is very difficult to predict where long-track tornadoes will form", he told BBC News. |
| Big snowstorms have hit Nebraska and Iowa, with whiteout conditions causing roads across Nebraska to be shut down. | Big snowstorms have hit Nebraska and Iowa, with whiteout conditions causing roads across Nebraska to be shut down. |
| Mr Hales said this winter in the US had been particularly volatile - and that there could still be very serious storms to come. | |
| Have you been affected? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
| You can send your pictures or moving footage toyourpics@bbc.co.uk Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | You can send your pictures or moving footage toyourpics@bbc.co.uk Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |