Powerful tornadoes followed by violent thunderstorms ravaged central and southern Mississippi on Wednesday, May 6.
The catastrophic storm left a trail of destruction, damaged more than 1,000 buildings and injured four people.
The hardest-hit areas include Lamar, Franklin and Lincoln counties, where officials report hundreds of structures have been destroyed.
About 250 buildings were damaged in Lamar County alone, affecting a church and the county’s emergency management center.
Several hours of southbound lane closures occurred along Interstate 55 due to debris. That was after the National Weather Service declared a “particularly dangerous situation” for parts of southwest Mississippi, a rare classification used only for the strongest tornadoes.
About 14 tornadoes hit the area. Following the storms, more than 19,000 consumers experienced a power outage on Thursday May 7. More than 1,500 customers would still be without power.
Four people were slightly injured, one of whom received stitches. Additionally, several residents trapped under the debris were able to save themselves.
The storm system has now moved toward Alabama, where officials continue to monitor for severe weather threats through Thursday morning.
