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Storm Damage In AL, MS

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By Associated Press

M30o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Storm Damage In AL, MS

Published: Fri, April 04, 2008 - 3:31 pm
Last Updated: Fri, April 04, 2008 - 4:38 pm

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Strong thunderstorms toppled trees and
power lines across north Alabama today, damaging homes and
businesses and prompting schools to dismiss thousands of students
early as a precaution.
No injuries were reported, but forecasters said tornadoes will
be a threat for hours.
Systems throughout the Birmingham metro area dismissed students
ahead of a wave of storms as reports of scattered damage came in
from across north Alabama.
Falling trees struck several houses and a nursing home in
Cullman, and authorities ordered an evacuation of everyone within a
half-mile radius of a downtown area where a gas leak was reported.
Power outages were reported throughout town.
Damage also was reported in the Tennessee Valley in Madison,
Colbert, Limestone and Winston counties. Authorities said it
appeared the damage was caused by straight-line winds instead of a
tornado.
Inclement weather forced officials to halt the search on the
Tennessee River for the body of a woman who has been missing since
a barge collided with a pleasure boat on March 27th. Three other
bodies already have been located.
The weather service issued a tornado watch until 6 p.m. for 21
counties in central Alabama.
The storms are part of a system that hit Arkansas last night
causing widespread damage.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Powerful storms tore across Mississippi
today (Friday), triggering a rash of warnings and leaving a rash of
scattered damage in their wake.
Areas of north Jackson and Madison County were without power
after damaging winds downed power lines and trees. Driving through
some areas was limited by downed trees and power lines.
Other damages was reported in areas from the Mississippi River
into Central Mississippi, including the Vicksburg and Jackson
metropolitan areas.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The National Weather Service issued tornado and severe
thunderstorm alerts for areas in the path of the fast moving system
that was producing heavy rain, strong wind gusts, lightning and
hail.
By early afternoon, the weather service was issuing thunderstorm
warnings for east Mississippi and west Alabama.
A particularly strong storm left damage to some homes and downed
trees in the Ross Barnett Reservoir area. Hail was reported in the
same area, which at one point was under a tornado warning.
Storms in the Madison and Ridgeland areas forced motorists off
highways, and many people sought shelter in businesses until the
systems moved to the east.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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