Recovery and search efforts continued in the South on Friday, a day after severe storms and tornadoes raked the region, killing at least nine people, blowing roofs off homes and cutting power for thousands.

At least seven people were killed in central Alabama’s Autauga County, with two others – including a 5-year-old boy – killed in Georgia, officials said.

In those states and Kentucky, at least 37 preliminary tornado reports were recorded in storms that damaged power lines, severed tree limbs and sent debris flying into streets.

A particularly damaging storm with at least one powerful tornado tore through both Selma – an Alabama city known for its role in the civil rights movement – and a community in Autauga County, situated one county to the east, the National Weather Service said.

Searches continued Friday in Autauga County as officials still weren’t sure everyone who may have lived in damaged homes was accounted for, state emergency management official Ricky Adams said.

“Our top priority today again continues to be life-saving in any of those areas where search and rescue is being conducted,” said Adams, who gave the county’s death toll as seven.

Last edited by Spunky (1/13/2023 4:17 pm)