Tornadoes Touch Down in Southeastern US

Posted March 2nd, 2012 at 2:55 pm (UTC-5)
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Residents in parts of the southeastern United States are bracing for another round of violent storms, as a large mass of severe weather moves over a seven-state region.

Two apparent tornadoes were reported to have destroyed homes in northeastern Alabama, sending some residents to hospitals. One of the twisters damaged the roof of a maximum-security prison. Authorities say despite significant damage to the roof and the prison fence, none of the more than 2,000 inmates escaped.

A devastating tornado struck the Huntsville area nearly a year ago. Soon after Friday's twisters hit near the same place, resident Tara DuBose-Schmitt, a teacher and mother of two, said , “I'm rattled.”

Two tornadoes were confirmed in central Tennessee on Friday. Dozens of school systems sent children home early to avoid possible strong winds, heavy rain, and large-sized hail as well as tornadoes. Tornado warnings were issued for a number of counties across central and eastern Tennessee. Warnings were in effect in the midwestern state of Indiana as well.

The severe weather comes just two days after tornadoes cut a path of destruction through the central and southern parts of the U.S., killing 13 people.

The powerful storm system tore through neighborhoods in the states of Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee on Wednesday, and spawned tornadoes in Kansas and Kentucky.