Second round of storms sweep across South
Photo: Salvation Army disaster workers continue to provide relief services in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeastern Tennessee.
Second round of storms sweep across South
By: Dan Childs
Just as had happened a week ago, the weekend concluded with an outbreak of storms that slammed the South, with most of the damage occurring in the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi Division. Fortunately, the outbreak on this occasion was less severe than that which swept through the South on Easter weekend.
The most severe damage occurred in Lamar and Marion counties in southeastern Mississippi, where a large tornado was reported and wind and hail caused some damage, resulting in more than 28,000 power outages. Need assessment was being done on Monday.
In Alabama, most of the storm's effects were felt in the east central part of the state, where some 12,000 residents experienced power outages. In Coosa and Tallapoosa counties, The Salvation Army's Alexander City Service Center was coordinating with state and county officials on service delivery. In nearby Chilton County, the Birmingham Area Command was working with state and county authorities on provision of services.
Louisiana experienced less damage. Some 6,000 residents were without utilities. The Natchitoches and Vernon parishes had some damage from high winds.
Army service ongoing in SE Tennessee
Meanwhile, the Kentucky-Tennessee Division continues relief services in the wake of the storms that struck the South Easter weekend. The Salvation Army has served 13,505 meals, 5,610 drinks, 4,890 snacks and provided 468 people with emotional and spiritual care in Catoosa County Georgia, and Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee.
The Salvation Army has been feeding those housed by the American Red Cross in area hotels as well as feeding emergency relief workers at command posts and serving neighbors as they continue clean-up efforts.
"We have emergency teams in town who are from all over the states of Tennessee and Kentucky," said Major Stephen Story. "Many of these same individuals just finished serving in the Nashville region for their tornadoes earlier in March."