Southern tornadoes: At least 2 killed as severe storms bring twisters, floods to region

JACKSON, Miss. — Thunderstorms pummeled the Deep South late Tuesday and early Wednesday, bringing tornadoes, hail, floods and power outages to the region, officials said.

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Authorities in Alabama said two people died in the state after what appeared to be a tornado struck north Montgomery County.

Update 1:13 a.m. EST Dec. 1: The victims were identified as Chiquita Broadnax, 39, and her son, Cedarrius Tell, 8, ABC News reported. The boy’s father, Cedric Lamar Tell, was injured and taken to an area hospital, family members told the news organization.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Update 2:20 p.m. EST Nov. 30: Officials in Montgomery County confirmed that the people killed after a tree fell onto their home in the Flatwood community were a 39-year-old woman and her 8-year-old son, Reuters reported.

Montgomery County Commission member Isaiah Sankey called the incident “devastating,” adding that the victims “didn’t stand a chance,” according to Reuters.

“Before they could even get the warning, the tornado was up upon them,” he said.

The 39-year-old’s husband was also injured, Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Christina Thornton told The New York Times.

“That area and community is devastated, with lines down, trees down and roadways blocked,” she said, according to the Times.

No other injuries were reported.

Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group

Update 10:20 a.m. EST Nov. 30: Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two people died after a suspected tornado touched down in the Flatwood community in north Montgomery County.

“Thanks to the heroic efforts of our first responders, many other lives were saved,” Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Christina Thornton told CNN. “We pray for our community as we mourn this tragic loss of lives.”

Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service showed that suspected tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, snapping power poles and damaging trees and buildings.

No other serious injuries were immediately reported.

Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group

Original report: According to The Associated Press, the National Weather Service said confirmed tornadoes struck Mississippi on Tuesday. In Lowndes County, people who had been trapped inside a Caledonia grocery store later escaped to safety, authorities said. Forecasters also reported property damage near Columbus.

Overnight, the storm system slammed Alabama, where a suspected tornado damaged several Hale County homes, the AP reported. WBMA captured footage of more damage in Eutaw, where an apartment complex was missing portions of its roof.

Officials across the region had not reported any severe injuries by Wednesday morning, according to the AP.

As of 6 a.m. EST Wednesday, more than 12,500 customers in Mississippi and nearly 42,500 in Alabama were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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