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Severe weather threatens eastern US states | Severe weather threatens eastern US states |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Severe weather is threatening as many as 73 million Americans in the eastern states, after two days of powerful storms killed up to 34 people. | |
Government forecasters have warned of severe thunderstorms from the Gulf of Mexico up to the Great Lakes. | Government forecasters have warned of severe thunderstorms from the Gulf of Mexico up to the Great Lakes. |
On Sunday and Monday, tornadoes cut a broad track of death and destruction through the southern US states. | On Sunday and Monday, tornadoes cut a broad track of death and destruction through the southern US states. |
The storms flattened buildings, overturned cars, and left thousands of residents without power. | The storms flattened buildings, overturned cars, and left thousands of residents without power. |
"Widespread thunderstorms are forecast across the central Gulf Coast region, with several severe [or] supercell storms possible," the National Weather Service wrote in a morning forecast. | |
More than two million people are said to be at risk of tornadoes and high winds in parts of Alabama and Mississippi on Tuesday. | |
As the storm moves further east, parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are expected to be under threat of severe weather, forecasters say. | |
Meanwhile, the search for survivors continues in the southern US states that were smashed by huge tornadoes on Monday and Tuesday. | Meanwhile, the search for survivors continues in the southern US states that were smashed by huge tornadoes on Monday and Tuesday. |
In Mississippi, officials reported 12 dead, including nine near Louisville and three in separate traffic accidents. | |
Early on Tuesday, residents of Louisville crept from their shelters to find their homes demolished by a tornado that punched holes in the roof of a local hospital. | |
'Start all over' | 'Start all over' |
Giles Ward huddled in a bathroom with his wife and four other relatives as a tornado destroyed his brick house and overturned his son-in-law's four-wheel-drive parked outside his home in Louisville. | Giles Ward huddled in a bathroom with his wife and four other relatives as a tornado destroyed his brick house and overturned his son-in-law's four-wheel-drive parked outside his home in Louisville. |
"For about 30 seconds, it was unbelievable,'' said Mr Ward, a Republican state senator. "It's about as awful as anything we've gone through." | "For about 30 seconds, it was unbelievable,'' said Mr Ward, a Republican state senator. "It's about as awful as anything we've gone through." |
The mayor of Tupelo, Jason Shelton, told CNN the damage from the storms was widespread and "devastating". A 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) curfew was in place on Monday. | The mayor of Tupelo, Jason Shelton, told CNN the damage from the storms was widespread and "devastating". A 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) curfew was in place on Monday. |
Power went out in much of the city as lines went down and trees were torn up by the storm, the US National Weather Service reported. | Power went out in much of the city as lines went down and trees were torn up by the storm, the US National Weather Service reported. |
Three people were reported dead in Alabama, including a University of Alabama student who perished when he took shelter in a basement and a retaining wall collapsed on him. | |
As many as 16 people were killed on Sunday, including 14 in the towns surrounding Little Rock, Arkansas, with Mayflower and Vilonia bearing the brunt of the damage. | As many as 16 people were killed on Sunday, including 14 in the towns surrounding Little Rock, Arkansas, with Mayflower and Vilonia bearing the brunt of the damage. |
Many homes and businesses, including a new secondary school worth $14m (£8.3m), were left in ruins in Vilonia after the storm. | Many homes and businesses, including a new secondary school worth $14m (£8.3m), were left in ruins in Vilonia after the storm. |
"There's just really nothing there anymore. We're probably going to have to start all over again," said Vilonia schools chief Frank Mitchell after inspecting the wreckage of the school. | "There's just really nothing there anymore. We're probably going to have to start all over again," said Vilonia schools chief Frank Mitchell after inspecting the wreckage of the school. |
The death toll may yet rise as crews search the wreckage of destroyed buildings. | The death toll may yet rise as crews search the wreckage of destroyed buildings. |
"We're trying to make sure everyone is accounted for," Brandon Morris, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, told the Associated Press news agency. | "We're trying to make sure everyone is accounted for," Brandon Morris, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, told the Associated Press news agency. |
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said the storm "may be one of the strongest we have seen". | Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said the storm "may be one of the strongest we have seen". |
President Barack Obama, on a trip to the Philippines, offered his deepest condolences to those affected on Sunday and said federal emergency officials would be on the ground to help. | President Barack Obama, on a trip to the Philippines, offered his deepest condolences to those affected on Sunday and said federal emergency officials would be on the ground to help. |
"Your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild, as long as it takes," he said. | "Your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild, as long as it takes," he said. |
Are you in the US? Are you affected by the tornadoes? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject title 'US tornadoes'. Or send your photos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the US? Are you affected by the tornadoes? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject title 'US tornadoes'. Or send your photos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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