Three Dead in Alabama After Severe Weather Sweeps Through the South
Three people from Pickens County, Alabama died Saturday after a tornado struck the area. The deaths occurred near the town of Carrollton along Settlement Road. There were also three storm-related fatalities in Louisiana and one in Texas, bringing the total reported death toll to seven.
Strong winds caused a small plane at the Birmingham-International Shuttlesworth Airport to flip over. Across the area, downed trees and powerlines blocked roadways. The storm led to widespread power outages across the state. Alabama Power says some crews are are beginning work to restore power.
Saturday 3 p.m. update:
Alabama Power crews are working where it is safe to do so, and have already restored service to 67,000 customers affected by the storm. The system is still moving east, and currently there are 90,000 customers without power.
— Alabama Power (@alabamapower) January 11, 2020
Severe weather was anticipated days ahead of the storm. Weather officials warned of tornadoes, flooding and of 70+ mph wind gusts during the storm. Governor Kay Ivey also said her office was preparing state resources ahead of the storms.
Residents took to social media to show the storm’s impacts across the state:
Brindlee Mountain Primary School damage in Union Grove, Alabama @spann
Photo taken from Facebook pic.twitter.com/d5SeBsQmjQ— Bɾιƚƚαɳყ (@BrittSchaf) January 11, 2020
@weswyattweather This is in Roebuck off of Lawson Road pic.twitter.com/8uzVnJdLUO
— Gail Barnes Dunlap (@gdunlap64) January 11, 2020
@spann Lincoln. Tanks to the City of Lincoln Street Department for getting this cleared just before the storm is hitting. pic.twitter.com/UmCKR2yl2c
— Kyle Pringle (@Kyle_CLE_OSU) January 11, 2020
@spann large tree down on house and two cars in Bluff Park pic.twitter.com/5h4qiwBxe2
— Kayla Clay (@KaylaBScott_) January 11, 2020
Workers at Alabama’s Mercedes plants vote against joining a union
The workers voted 56% against the union, according to tallies released by the National Labor Relations Board, which ran the election.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi
Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.
