JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Severe weather blowing through the southern U.S. two days before Christmas killed at least one person, knocked out power to thousands and damaged several homes and buildings.
Columbia, Mississippi, Fire Department Capt. Tommy Graves told the Hattiesburg American newspaper that one person was confirmed dead at a trailer park in the city about 80 miles southeast of Jackson. He said two more people were injured. Storm spotters in the area said it was a tornado that touched down but it hadn’t been confirmed.
Marion County Emergency Management director Aaron Greer told the newspaper that some people are still trapped inside their homes near U.S. 98 and Mississippi 13. He says several businesses and homes in the area are damaged or destroyed. Television footage showed cars flipped and businesses heavily damaged.
Calls from The Associated Press to the fire department and Greer weren’t immediately returned Tuesday night.
National Weather Service meteorologist Latrice Maxie said there’s been some significant damage to homes and businesses reported in the Columbia area. A survey team will be dispatched Wednesday to determine whether a tornado was responsible, she said.
WDAM-TV reports power lines are down along Highway 98 and authorities are urging motorists to avoid the area.
A telephone call to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was not answered.
Watches and warnings were out for a swath of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama with the storms moving toward Georgia, including Atlanta, and Florida late Tuesday into Christmas Eve.
According to local media reports, a tornado apparently touched down in Amite, Louisiana, downing several power lines and trees and tearing the roof off at least one home.
Golf ball-sized hail fell in Enterprise, Mississippi, along with some pea-sized hail in the Bude area.
Flooding also was forecast in several areas because of heavy rains.