After storms batter South, 20 million Americans in path of severe weather

More than 20 million Americans are in the path of severe weather today from South Carolina to New Jersey. Tornadoes were reported from Georgia to Indiana on Wednesday. Strong wind leveled buildings and heavy rain flooded roads.

In the Northeast, flood watches and warnings are in effect.

Tornadoes, hail, flash floods and high winds caused damage from the Deep South to the Midwest on Wednesday. At least nine reported twisters touched down, one destroying several buildings in south Georgia, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

“The top of the homes started peeling off so we knew it was a really serious storm,” Calvin Friedman said.

High winds toppled trees, crushing a pickup truck and a mobile home.

“It could be much worse, and I’m very thankful that it’s not,” another resident said.

Hailstones, some as large as baseballs, pounded neighborhoods, even peeling the paint off homes.

Along Atlanta’s Peachtree Creek, truck became trapped in rising floodwaters, stranding five city workers. First-responders used rafts to rescue them.

Drenching rains caused flash flooding near Columbia, South Carolina. Lightning struck across the region and is believed to have started several house fires.

The severe weather caused the cancellation of Wednesday’s Par 3 contest at the Masters Tournament for the first time ever, forcing hundreds of people to leave. 

Hundreds of travelers were stranded at Atlanta’s airport overnight by the system. According to CBS Atlanta affiliate WGCL, the atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport resembled an emergency shelter Thursday morning after severe weather forced cancellations and delays, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Over 1,000 cancellations and delays were reported Wednesday, forcing families with children and groups of travelers to sleep on floors and chairs. 

At least two injuries have been reported from the storms, but fortunately no deaths. The weather is expected to be clear here for at least the remainder of the week including in Augusta for the Masters.