Extreme pre-Christmas weather hits southern states; 4 killed

JACKSON, Miss. - Severe weather slamming through the southern U.S. two days before Christmas killed at least four people, knocked out power to thousands and damaged several homes and buildings.

Columbia, Mississippi, Fire Department Capt. Tommy Graves told the Hattiesburg American newspaper that one person was confirmed dead at a trailer park in the city about 80 miles southeast of Jackson. He said two more people were injured. Storm spotters in the area said it was a tornado that touched down but that hadn't been confirmed.

A spokesperson for Forrest General Hospital Hattiesburg, Miss., confirmed both fatalities. At least 50 others were treated at the hospital.

Marion County coroner Norma Williamson told WDAM-TV that two people were killed in Columbia.

Marion County Emergency Management director Aaron Greer told the newspaper that some people were still trapped inside their homes near U.S. 98 and Mississippi 13. He said several businesses and homes in the area were damaged or destroyed. Television footage showed cars, including an ambulance, flipped and businesses heavily damaged.

Calls from The Associated Press to the fire department and Greer weren't immediately returned Tuesday night.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared an emergency for the two southeastern counties where the storms left fatalities and several more were injured. His office said thousands were without power Tuesday night around Columbia, which is about 80 miles southeast of Jackson.

National Weather Service meteorologist Latrice Maxie said there's been some significant damage to homes and businesses reported in the Columbia area. A survey team will be dispatched Wednesday to determine whether a tornado was responsible, she said.

WDAM-TV reports power lines were down along U.S. 98 and authorities were urging motorists to avoid the area as darkness fell.

A telephone call to the Marion County Sheriff's Office was not answered.

Watches and warnings were out for a swath of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama with the storms moving toward Georgia, including Atlanta, and Florida late Tuesday into Christmas Eve.

Already in Tallahassee, Florida, the weather service tweeted that travel was strongly discouraged and that several water rescues were in progress. At least 6 inches of rain had hit the area in a short time.

According to local media reports, a tornado apparently touched down in Amite, Louisiana, downing several power lines and trees and tearing the roof off at least one home.

Golf ball-sized hail fell in Enterprise, Mississippi, along with some pea-sized hail in the Bude area.

Flooding also was forecast in several areas because of several inches of rain piling up.