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As it happenedended1616758685

Tornado warning - live: At least five dead as 50 million people across southeast brace for 135mph wind

Follow the latest updates

Justin Vallejo
Friday 26 March 2021 11:38 GMT
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(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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At least five people reported dead as emergency rescue crews surveyed the rubble across Alabama for more casualties of the massive "supercell" storm wreaking havoc across the southeast.

While tornados first touched down across Alabama and Mississippi, about 50 million people remained under severe weather warnings as the storm moved northeast across Georgia and South Carolina.

A police officer was struck by lightning and more injuries are expected to emerge as 135mph winds destroyed homes and the National Weather Service issued warnings to "take cover now!"

Alabama Governor KayIvey earlier issued an emergency declaration for 46 counties as the storm approached, with shelters opened in advance of the wild weather approaching.

Atlanta meteorologist Brad Nitz tweeted around 4 pm that the storm was 22 miles from the Georgia state line and was moving at 50 mph.

The storm was described as a "supercell thunderstorm", which can last for several hours and drop numerous violent tornados and large hail.

Read more:

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‘Multiple vortex’ Tornado captured on video

The local CBS in Shelby County was streaming live when a “multiple vortex tornado” touched down over the I-65 as cars were stopped in their path.

“There it is, there it is, that is it, look how large it is. There it is crossing Interstate 65. Multiple vortex tornado. Look at that,” the host said.

“Very large tornado. Likely very destructive tornado as we saw those little swirls going around it, that would be multiple vortex, which means you have different tornados around the parent tornado.”

Justin Vallejo25 March 2021 23:45
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Jill Biden cancels trip to Alabama amid Tornado emergency

The first lady has postponed her planned trip to Alabama to promote the president’s “America Rescue Plan”.

Jill Biden had planned to visit the state with Jennifer Garner on Friday as part of her husband’s “Help is Here” tour.

White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins confirmed the trip was postponed as tornados wreaked havoc across the state, killing at least five and destroying dozens of homes.

Justin Vallejo25 March 2021 23:52
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This drone video of a ravaged home in Alabama is wild

Shocking footage is coming out of Lake Purdy in Alabama, where entire homes were wiped out by extreme winds.

This shot zooms in to show someone surveying the damage on the second floor as the full roof has been lifted off the structure.

Justin Vallejo26 March 2021 00:30
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Images from the tornado emergency

While South Carolina and Georgia brace for impact from the severe weather system, Alabama and Mississippi bore the brunt of the storm earlier on.

Residents and emergency crews are working to assess the damage and extent of the injuries.

These dramatic images have emerged from some of the worst-hit areas.

Unhandled: gallery

Justin Vallejo26 March 2021 01:30
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ICYMI: Five dead in Alabama as South braces for tornadoes and 135mph winds

At least five people have died in Alabama so far as storms and tornadoes moved across the Southeast US on Thursday.

The casualties were in Calhoun County, Alabama, where search and rescue efforts remain under way, according to CNN.

Among the twisters spinning off the storm is a tornado that’s roughly 35 miles from the city of Birmingham, Alabama, where the National Weather Service has issued a tornado emergency alert.

Another already touched down in the city this afternoon, destroying homes and knocking out power for roughly 16,000 customers in the surrounding areas.

Five dead in Alabama as South braces for tornadoes and 135mph winds

Much of the South is bracing for continued storms this Thursday

Justin Vallejo26 March 2021 02:30
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How to stay safe during Tornado

In the event of a tornado, these are the National Weather Services’ rules to stay safe:

  • Get as low as possible. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between the outside as possible. Avoid windows at all cost.
  • Tornadoes could be obscured by rainfall or come at nighttime. Do not wait until seeing or hearing the tornado, it may be too late.
  • Do not waste time opening or closing windows and doors. It will not protect the structure, only waste time and put people in greater risk. Use those valuable seconds to find a place of safety.
  • In homes or public buildings: go to the basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom or an interior hall on the lowest level. Close all doors to the hallway for greater protection.
  • If possible, get under something sturdy like a heavy table. Protect from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats, blankets or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets.
  • In mobile homes: leave well in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat, head with hands for protection.
  • In vehicles or outdoors: when tornadoes are possible, limit outdoor plans or finish early. Stay close to a sturdy shelter. If caught outside, find shelter in a ditch or remain in vehicles.
  • Do not take shelter under a highway overpass, where wind speeds can increase due to a tunnelling effect.
Justin Vallejo26 March 2021 03:30
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ICYMI: Tornado emergency declared in Alabama as violent storm hits state

A tornado emergency has been declared in Alabama as a violent storm hits the state. The National Weather Service in Birmingham confirmed the storm on Twitter, writing that the tornado has a “history of producing damage”.

Storm tracker Brandon Copic spoke to The Weather Channel, saying: “It was a violent tornado flinging debris everywhere.”

Tornado emergency declared in Alabama as violent storm hits state

‘Life-threatening’ tornado confirmed in Alabama after towns were hit just eight days ago

Justin Vallejo26 March 2021 04:30
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Texas death toll from February storm, outages surpasses 100

As a “supercell” storm makes its way across southern states, new detail is emerging on the winter storm in Texas that left twice as many people dead as previously thought.

Texas officials on Thursday raised the death toll from February’s winter storm and blackouts to at least 111 people — nearly doubling the state’s initial tally following one of the worst power outages in U.S. history.

The majority of the deaths are associated with hypothermia, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. And the dramatic number of new victims is still a potential undercount, as officials continue investigating deaths that happened around the time the storm knocked out power to more than 4 million customers in Texas.

Many homes went without power or drinkable water for days after subfreezing temperatures, failing power plants and record demand for heat pushed Texas’ electric grid to the breaking point.

Texas officials earlier this month put the initial tally of deaths at 57 but warned it would increase. The toll now officially exceeds Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which was blamed for 68 deaths in Texas.

The list of victims cut a wide swath across the state of 30 million people: Some fatalities were nearly as far north as Oklahoma, while others were close to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The most confirmed deaths occurred around Houston, where Harris County officials have reported at least 31 victims. - AP

Justin Vallejo26 March 2021 05:30

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