Alabama Tornadoes Devastate Region, Kills 2, Injures Dozens

By Kris Coombs, Christian Post Contributor Monday, January 23, 2012

Two people were killed and at least 100 injuries have been reported following the severe tornado tearing through the southeast beginning Monday morning, CNN reported.

At least 211 homes have been destroyed and 218 have suffered serious damages in Jefferson County, Alabama Red Cross spokesman Chris Olson told CNN. The number of damages is expected to increase.

Both fatalities, one a 16-year-old girl and the other an 82-year-old man, were in Alabama.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's office, emergency crews were working to find people that were possibly trapped or injured, and to clear damaged roads obstructing their efforts, CNN reported.

"The whole house just shook," local resident Mary Mann told WVTM. "We were all in the back bedroom praying to God to put his angels around us. We made it out, but ... the devastation."

"We've lost our house, but at least ... we've got our family, and that's all that matters right now," another distraught resident told WVTM.

Power outages peaked at 45,400 at around 5 a.m., Alabama Power spokeswoman Hallie Bradley said, CNN reported. Utility poles and power lines were also reported down.

Approximately 11,300 customers in the metropolitan Birmingham area were without power, as well as 2,300 in Clanton and another 1,500 in Prattville as of noon, Alabama Power said on Twitter.

In total, seven Alabama counties have reported storm damage, the majority being in Chilton and Jefferson counties, Yasamie August of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.

Damages and power outages have also been reported in Mississippi and Arkansas.

Several organizations, including the Red Cross and the Salvation Army announced on Twitter they were sending teams to assist victims of the storm. Shelters are also open in Jefferson County, the sheriff's office told CNN.

"As we assess the damage this morning, it looks like we dodged a pretty good bullet when you look at places like Alabama," Tommy Jackson, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency management, told CNN.