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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bush visits tornado-hit Tennessee | Bush visits tornado-hit Tennessee |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| President George W Bush has visited the US state of Tennessee, one of several southern states hit by deadly tornadoes which left a swathe of destruction. | |
| More than 50 people died and hundreds were injured when dozens of twisters hit Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi this week. | |
| Thousands of people were left without power because of the high winds. | Thousands of people were left without power because of the high winds. |
| Mr Bush has designated Tennessee and Arkansas major disaster areas, meaning they will get federal aid to recover. | Mr Bush has designated Tennessee and Arkansas major disaster areas, meaning they will get federal aid to recover. |
| Flattened streets | Flattened streets |
| The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has sent teams to the worst affected areas. | The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has sent teams to the worst affected areas. |
| The president began his visit to Tennessee with a helicopter flight over the disaster zone. | The president began his visit to Tennessee with a helicopter flight over the disaster zone. |
| He then received a briefing from state officials, before hearing from local people about their experiences of the storms. | He then received a briefing from state officials, before hearing from local people about their experiences of the storms. |
| It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground Phil BredesenGovernor of Tennessee In pictures: The aftermathAnimated guide: TornadoesTornado 'miracle baby' | It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground Phil BredesenGovernor of Tennessee In pictures: The aftermathAnimated guide: TornadoesTornado 'miracle baby' |
| More than 30 people are thought to have been killed in Tennessee by the tornadoes. | |
| The winter storms also killed 13 people in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama. | The winter storms also killed 13 people in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama. |
| They left behind flattened streets, wrecked mobile homes, overturned vehicles, and uprooted trees. | They left behind flattened streets, wrecked mobile homes, overturned vehicles, and uprooted trees. |
| "Loss of life, loss of property - prayers can help and so can the government," Mr Bush said. | "Loss of life, loss of property - prayers can help and so can the government," Mr Bush said. |
| "I do want the people in those states to know the American people are standing with them." | "I do want the people in those states to know the American people are standing with them." |
| Mr Bush said he had no doubt that the communities would "come back better than before". | |
| In the past, the Bush administration has been criticised for its handling of disasters, particularly Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when the storms hit the US Gulf Coast, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. | |
| 'Amazing' | 'Amazing' |
| Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen said he was shocked by the scale of the storms, which "just literally sat on the ground in wide areas", leaving a trail of destruction up to 400 miles (643km) wide. | Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen said he was shocked by the scale of the storms, which "just literally sat on the ground in wide areas", leaving a trail of destruction up to 400 miles (643km) wide. |
| Students were trapped when dormitories collapsed in Tennessee Tornado footage | Students were trapped when dormitories collapsed in Tennessee Tornado footage |
| "It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground," he told reporters as he observed the damage from a helicopter. | "It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground," he told reporters as he observed the damage from a helicopter. |
| As survivors attempt to salvage possessions from their wrecked homes, remarkable stories of survival emerged. | As survivors attempt to salvage possessions from their wrecked homes, remarkable stories of survival emerged. |
| In Castalian Springs, Tennessee, a baby was discovered unscathed in a field after lying there for several hours after his mother was killed. | In Castalian Springs, Tennessee, a baby was discovered unscathed in a field after lying there for several hours after his mother was killed. |
| At Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, students helped free classmates trapped in the rubble of two campus dormitories which collapsed in the high winds. | At Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, students helped free classmates trapped in the rubble of two campus dormitories which collapsed in the high winds. |
| Fifty-one students were treated in hospital, some with extensive injuries, but no-one was killed. | Fifty-one students were treated in hospital, some with extensive injuries, but no-one was killed. |
| "It's an amazing thing," university president David Dockery told reporters. | "It's an amazing thing," university president David Dockery told reporters. |
| Have you or anybody you know been affected by the storms? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. | Have you or anybody you know been affected by the storms? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| Read a selection of your comments: | Read a selection of your comments: |
| I live in Allen County on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. As a Brit who moved to the states in 2000, I can honestly say I have never experienced such a terrifying storm in all my time here. It was classified as an EF2 with wind speeds of 111-135 mph. The lightening was so intense, it's hard to describe. It was like looking into a strobe light. The thunder literally shook my homes foundation, and the rain washed away most of my driveway. I thought my roof was going to blow off. I woke this morning after next to no sleep to no power and scared to look outside for what I might see. | I live in Allen County on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. As a Brit who moved to the states in 2000, I can honestly say I have never experienced such a terrifying storm in all my time here. It was classified as an EF2 with wind speeds of 111-135 mph. The lightening was so intense, it's hard to describe. It was like looking into a strobe light. The thunder literally shook my homes foundation, and the rain washed away most of my driveway. I thought my roof was going to blow off. I woke this morning after next to no sleep to no power and scared to look outside for what I might see. |
| Surprisingly there was little damage to my home, just a few missing shingles from the roof. Our neighbours in Lafayette, Tennessee were not so lucky, several people were killed, our prayers are with them. Four people in my county were killed, we were very lucky. The damage to homes around the area was surreal, barns and homes reduced to what looks like piles of matchsticks. Debris was everywhere. Never underestimate the power of mother nature.Richard Roe, Scottsville, Kentucky | Surprisingly there was little damage to my home, just a few missing shingles from the roof. Our neighbours in Lafayette, Tennessee were not so lucky, several people were killed, our prayers are with them. Four people in my county were killed, we were very lucky. The damage to homes around the area was surreal, barns and homes reduced to what looks like piles of matchsticks. Debris was everywhere. Never underestimate the power of mother nature.Richard Roe, Scottsville, Kentucky |
| I was awakened by the sound of emergency sirens and my weather radio at about 0300. I quickly turned on my TV to local weather reports regarding the storm and realized that a possible tornado was in neighbouring Lawrence County and was moving toward Decatur. My roommate and I rounded up our dogs and headed to my closet that is located in the centre of the house (there are few basements here due to the swampy terrain). The storm moved past Decatur on the northwest but resulted in three deaths and damage in Lawrence County. Thank goodness for the sirens, weather radio, and excellent local weather teams and thank God for watching over us.Stephen, Decatur, Alabama, USA | I was awakened by the sound of emergency sirens and my weather radio at about 0300. I quickly turned on my TV to local weather reports regarding the storm and realized that a possible tornado was in neighbouring Lawrence County and was moving toward Decatur. My roommate and I rounded up our dogs and headed to my closet that is located in the centre of the house (there are few basements here due to the swampy terrain). The storm moved past Decatur on the northwest but resulted in three deaths and damage in Lawrence County. Thank goodness for the sirens, weather radio, and excellent local weather teams and thank God for watching over us.Stephen, Decatur, Alabama, USA |
| There were numerous severe weather warnings on TV but i did not think it would get this bad. For most of the day the weather was normal but around 8pm the wind started blowing ferociously. All of a sudden we could hear sirens and we were ordered to the ground floor of our dormitory. After about half an hour it quickly became calm again. Luckily for us Arkansas State University was not damaged.Macnos Mutano, Jonesboro, USA | There were numerous severe weather warnings on TV but i did not think it would get this bad. For most of the day the weather was normal but around 8pm the wind started blowing ferociously. All of a sudden we could hear sirens and we were ordered to the ground floor of our dormitory. After about half an hour it quickly became calm again. Luckily for us Arkansas State University was not damaged.Macnos Mutano, Jonesboro, USA |
| We are in Starkville, Mississippi and are getting hit by the severe weather really bad right now and I'm surprised that we still have power and internet capabilities. It is unknown how bad the aftermath of the storm will be until the sun rises. We are still fearful of tornadoes here. Please keep us in your intentions.Trevor Caulkins, Starkville, Mississippi USA | We are in Starkville, Mississippi and are getting hit by the severe weather really bad right now and I'm surprised that we still have power and internet capabilities. It is unknown how bad the aftermath of the storm will be until the sun rises. We are still fearful of tornadoes here. Please keep us in your intentions.Trevor Caulkins, Starkville, Mississippi USA |
| I live in Jackson, Tennessee, and watched the tornado as it passed less than a half-mile from where I was standing. There are 8 students still trapped in the University, as one of the dormitories has collapsed. As well as 50 elderly trapped inside a retirement home that collapsed. It has definitely been a terrifying night. Trees, buildings, power lines, street lights...they are down all over the place. Meaghan, Jackson, Tennessee, US | I live in Jackson, Tennessee, and watched the tornado as it passed less than a half-mile from where I was standing. There are 8 students still trapped in the University, as one of the dormitories has collapsed. As well as 50 elderly trapped inside a retirement home that collapsed. It has definitely been a terrifying night. Trees, buildings, power lines, street lights...they are down all over the place. Meaghan, Jackson, Tennessee, US |
| A friend's mother was hiding in a bathtub in Jackson, TN. We have not heard from her as of this time because phone lines are down. This is not the first time for tornadoes to rip through that area. The Main Street was destroyed a few years back in the same town.Vloxy, Dallas, TX | A friend's mother was hiding in a bathtub in Jackson, TN. We have not heard from her as of this time because phone lines are down. This is not the first time for tornadoes to rip through that area. The Main Street was destroyed a few years back in the same town.Vloxy, Dallas, TX |