Over the weekend, a massive storm system spawned dozens of tornadoes and caused extensive damage across a swath of the southern United States, from Texas to Florida. At least 19 deaths have been blamed on the storms so far, as emergency crews and first responders are still searching through wreckage for survivors. The worst of the system appeared to have moved out to sea on Monday, as residents who sheltered from the storm returned to their damaged homes to assess the damage and salvage what they can.
Deadly Storms and Tornadoes Hit the American South
-
Jenny Bullard carries a pair of boots from her home that was heavily damaged by a tornado on January 22, 2017, in Adel, Georgia. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms. #
Branden Camp / AP -
-
-
The William Carey University's School of Business is damaged in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on January 21, 2017, following the morning tornado that tore through the campus. The school and the neighboring community were hit by a morning twister that killed several people as roofs were ripped from homes and churches, and trees were torn from the earth. #
Rogelio V. Solis / AP -
-
Shanise McMorris grieves on the slab of her Hattiesburg, Mississippi, home after an early tornado hit the city on January 21, 2017. Neither she or her husband or two children were injured when the roof collapsed on them. #
Rogelio V. Solis / AP -
Students that were in the dorms pulled all their undamaged possessions from their rooms as cleanup began at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, following an early morning tornado on January 21, 2017. #
Rogelio V. Solis / AP -
-
A rescue worker carries a dog that was trapped inside a mobile home in Big Pine Estates that was damaged by a tornado, in Albany, Georgia, on January 23, 2017. Fire and rescue crews were searching through the debris on Monday, looking for people who might have become trapped when the storm came through. #
Branden Camp / AP -
-
Cody Poole climbs out of a window in his family’s severely damaged home in Petal, Mississippi, after looking for clothing. Poole says that’s also how he and family members exited the home following a predawn tornado on January, 21, 2017. Petal Mayor Hal Marx says more than 300 homes were damaged in his 10,000-resident city, along with hundreds more in its larger neighbor of Hattiesburg. The twister plowed a 25-mile path across south Mississippi, killing four people and injuring dozens. #
Jeff Amy / AP -
Lanada Miller stands before the remains of her trailer home being ripped apart, while leaving two other trailers with exterior damage in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on January 21, 2017. #
Rogelio V. Solis / AP -
-
Damaged bushes, brush and tree limbs surround the statue of Jesus Christ in the Chain Garden on the campus of William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on January 21, 2017. #
Rogelio V. Solis / AP -
-
-
Residents and volunteers of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, help salvage personal belongings in the Hall Avenue neighborhood that was destroyed from Saturday's twister that damaged much of the city, on January 22, 2017. #
Ryan Moore / WDAM-TV, via AP -
Prince Kirkland, 1, of Hattiesburg takes a nap at the Forrest County Storm Shelter, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on January 22, 2017. Kirkland and his family were displaced after a deadly tornado swept through the Hub City in the early hours of Saturday morning. #
Ryan Moore / WDAM-TV, via AP -
-
Jeff Bullard sits in what used to be the foyer of his home as his daughter, Jenny Bullard, left, looks through debris at their home that was damaged by a tornado in Adel, Georgia, on January 22, 2017. #
Branden Camp / AP -
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.