Southeast Storms, Tornadoes Leave 20 Dead, Severe Damage Reported

Tornadoes coupled with high winds and hail ravaged the southeast over the weekend, leaving 20 people dead, injuring several others and causing widespread damage to homes in at least seven states.

The National Weather Service's storm reports from the past three days state that the service had almost four dozen preliminary reports of tornadoes in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana. The weather's deadly impact was felt the hardest in Georgia, where the state's emergency management service reported that 15 people had been killed in the storms, another four were killed during a tornado in Mississippi and one weather-related death was reported in Florida.

According to the NWS' preliminary reports, damage to several homes and structures in the area was reported. In Columbia County, Florida, a woman was killed after she sustained serious injuries when she walked out her front door and a tree from her backyard fell on her home. According to First Coast News, her son expected her to survive, but on Friday the local emergency management office confirmed that she had died. In Mississippi, a local university was severely damaged, causing the campus to close until further notice. Across the area, several mobile homes were damaged in the storms.

In Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in 16 counties, which will be in place until Jan. 30. In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant also authorized a state of emergency to mobilize state resources for rescue and recovery efforts in the affected areas.

Speaking during a White House ceremony, President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Deal and pledged federal support for Georgia and other southern states.

"I expressed our sincere condolences for the lives taken," Trump said. "The tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong. And they suffered greatly, so we'll be helping out the state of Georgia."

Much of the southeast remained at risk for extreme weather over the weekend with the forecast finally clearing up at the start of the work week. A moderate risk of severe thunderstorms remained in Florida through Monday morning. A low- pressure system tracked toward the northeast coast, with the NWS warning of heavy rain over the area.

Image: Tornado Damage in Mississippi via David Lord @dcl920 via Twitter, used with permission