Residents across the Deep South are assessing damage Monday after severe storms and tornadoes battered the region for the second consecutive weekend.
At least three deaths, one each in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, have been blamed on the storms.
Late Monday morning, severe storms were moving across Florida. Several trees were blown down into southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Marion County. Two lanes were closed while workers removed the debris, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.
Windows were blown out and a roof damaged in the Silver Springs Shores area of Marion County near Ocala, the National Weather Service reported.
A tornado touched down along Interstate 75 near Ocala and flung a portable building that was being transported by a semitrailer, according to the Associated Press. The 36-foot portable building was thrown into a nearby pickup truck, and the driver sustained minor injuries, Florida Highway Patrol troopers told the AP.
Be careful out there! A friend of mine encountered this on I-75 this am near Ocala! #tornado @PaulFox13 @JimWeberFOX @LindaHurtadoFOX @FOX13News
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Damage was also reported in neighboring Citrus County. The county's emergency manager said a number of trees were knocked down and a gas station canopy ripped off near Homosassa Springs, according to the NWS. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office said trees and power lines were down near U.S. Highway 19 and Halls River Road.
The line of storms led to tornado watches and warnings across Central Florida as it moved southeast, including tornado warnings in Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Orange and Brevard counties. More than 10,000 customers were without electricity, according to poweroutage.us.
Damage was reported in DeLand, Florida, in Volusia County.
Here's some footage of the storm coming through this morning from City Hall. Damage appears to be isolated to southwest DeLand. Duke Energy reported about 300 customers without power - 10 calls are related to power lines and trees down.
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Another round of powerful storms struck South Florida on Monday evening, dumping torrential rain and bringing gusty winds to areas like Palm City.
Well, that wasn’t fun. Hail and a TON of wind in Palm City moments ago. @WPTV. We had a break and got somewhere safe.
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Earlier Monday, the National Weather Service counted at least seven reports of tornadoes. High winds from thunderstorms knocked down hundreds of trees, many of them falling on homes or power lines. Flooding was also a problem in many areas.
Two tornadoes were reported in Lamar and Marion counties in southern Mississippi.
The state Emergency Management Agency said one person was killed in Marion County. Jerry Johnson, 70, died when the severe weather hit the Sandy Hook community, Coroner Jessie Graham told the AP.
Marion County officials reported additional damage in the Sandy Hook area and in Pine Burr. State emergency management officials said 20 homes were damaged and 20 roads impacted.
Homes also were damaged Sunday night in the Lamar County community of Baxterville, according to the Hattiesburg American, however, downed trees and debris was preventing officials from reaching them.
"We're still trying to work our way through to the damaged areas," James Smith, Lamar County emergency management director, said. "Nothing is confirmed yet. We have reports of two houses damaged, but there may be more than that."
A trailer was destroyed north of Baxterville, according to WJTV, and reports said a tree fell on a car north of Purvis.
In Forrest County, about eight homes are damaged and 25 roads are impacted, state officials said.
U.S. Highway 49 is closed by flooding at the Fourth Street Bridge near the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on Sunday, April 19, 2020.
In Hattiesburg, police closed several streets because of flooding. Some motorists had to be rescued from their flooded cars.
Large hail was reported in the city, and wind gusts of 62 mph were measured at Bobby l. Chain Municipal Airport about 8:15 p.m. Sunday.
More than 10,000 customers across southern Mississippi remained without electricity on Monday morning, according to poweroutage.us.
In neighboring Alabama, the number of homes and businesses without power on Monday morning climbed above 42,000.
The body of Jerry Oliver Williams Jr., 61, was found beneath the wreckage of his mobile home in the Tumbleton community of Henry County about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Coroner Derek Wright told al.com.
A second round of storms rolled across southern Alabama Sunday night into Monday morning.
On Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said it had received reports of people trapped by fallen trees in Coosa and Tallapoosa counties in Alabama. Trees also blocked roads and knocked down power lines, according to the NWS.
Debris blocked some lanes of Interstate 65 in Chilton County, and several state highways in Chilton, Coosa and Tallapoosa had to close until debris could be removed.
Wind-driven hail damage in Hanover, AL. Winds estimated at 70-80 mph due to nearby extensive timber damage, with hail up to 2" in diameter. (Cc: @NWSBirmingham) #ALwx
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Damage extended into southwestern Georgia. Reports of downed trees came in from Randolph, Early and Worth counties, WALB reported.
A third death in the storms was believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. In Wilcox County, a 95-year-old woman died in a house fire early Monday morning that occurred as storms rolled through, Coroner Janice Brown told the AP.
The Worth County Sheriff's Office said a home on York Road sustained "major damage" and the residents were being treated by emergency personnel. Another house on Gintown Road was damaged, but no one was injured.
Trees and power lines were knocked down and some roads were closed by debris.
Damaged homes were reported on Gates Road and South County Line Road.
An outbreak of more than 130 tornadoes over the Easter weekend left at least 34 people dead across the South.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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