Alabama Tornado Outbreak Rips Off Roofs, Snaps Trees As State Braces For More
This story was updated at 10:37 p.m.
For more than six hours, the tornado warnings came one after another across much of Alabama. At one point Wednesday afternoon, weather officials reported multiple tornadoes on the ground in the central portion of the state. Homes and hunting camps were damaged and trees fell and blocked the roads.
In Dallas County, a boat was wrapped around the upper part of a tree. There was significant damage to homes, barns, and farm equipment in Chilton County, but as of Wednesday night, no injuries or deaths were reported statewide. About 8,500 were without power. The National Weather Service in Birmingham was compiling damage reports Wednesday night. It estimated it will investigate more than a dozen areas of damage over the coming days.
In Hale County in western Alabama, the storm ripped off the roofs of several homes late in the afternoon. In Moundville, 20 to 30 homes were damaged; five of them no longer have roofs, according to Russell Weeden, director of the Hale County Emergency Management Agency.
Weeden said a tornado was likely the cause, though it hasn’t been confirmed.
“Right now we’re just trying to clean up the street,” Weeden said, “and helping people clean up their homes and trying to get some of these roofs tarped before the next storm.”
There were no reported injuries.
In Autauga County near Billingsley, the storm destroyed a hunting camp, damaged one home and left several downed trees. County EMA Director Ernie Baggett said officials responded quickly and no one was injured.
“Our engineering department has gotten out, gotten all the trees off the roadways, so our roads are back passable right now,” he said. “And the individuals that were in the home that was occupied, we have them connected with the Red Cross and they’ve got a place to stay tonight.”
In Tuscaloosa, which was ravaged by a tornado almost 10 years ago, two apparent tornadoes touched down. Mayor Walt Maddox tweeted cautious relief.
Most of central Alabama remains under a tornado watch until 3 a.m., Thursday, March 18. Tornadoes, hail and winds up to 80 mph remain possible overnight, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.
Stephan Bisaha and Mary Scott Hodgin contributed reporting.
Does Congress or the president hold war powers? Here’s what to know
President Trump's decision to launch airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities without first consulting Congress has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers who say the move bypasses their constitutional authority to declare war.
U.S. Supreme Court allows — for now — third-country deportations
A federal judge had previously said people must get at least 15 days to challenge their deportations to countries they're not originally from.
Democratic senators rent space at the Kennedy Center to host a Pride event
A group of Democratic senators and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller are hosting a Pride celebration at the Kennedy Center Monday evening. But the Kennedy Center has nothing to do with programming it.
What to know about Jeff Bezos’ upcoming Venice wedding — and the protests against it
Bezos will soon marry Lauren Sánchez in Venice. Protesters say the city, already grappling with overtourism, is putting the wedding over their needs — which city officials and wedding organizers deny.
Emmy nominations voting ends tonight. Here’s what our critic hopes will make the cut
Emmy voters have until tonight to send in their picks for nominees. Here's what NPR TV critic Eric Deggans thinks they should be voting for.
Iran attacks a U.S. base in Qatar
A U.S. defense official confirmed that the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar "was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran" and said there were no casualties.
