TUSKEGEE, Ala. – A day after heavy wind, rain and hail damaged homes across the South, torrential rains and possible tornadoes hit central Alabama on Thursday, flooding roads and briefly trapping a family when a tree fell on their mobile home.
No one was hurt, but authorities were forced to close a main road between Montgomery and nearby Wetumpka that was covered by floodwaters. Other roads were deep in water as heavy rains and thunderstorms pounded the area.
Tuskegee police said a family had to be rescued after a tree fell into their mobile home about 7 a.m. CDT.
The National Weather Service said hazardous weather could threaten central and southern Alabama counties through the day as the storms pushed into southern Georgia.
Weather officials also confirmed that a Wednesday tornado caused damage across two counties in north Alabama. Michael Coyne of the weather service office in Huntsville said the tornado left a path of destruction nearly 11 miles long that was up to 75 yards wide in places.
More than 100 homes and businesses were damaged in the South on Wednesday by strong winds, heavy rains and golf ball-sized hail. Strong winds damaged homes in Arkansas and North Carolina, and debris blocked roads and damaged houses in north Mississippi. No serious injuries were reported.
Officials also increased the flow of water through dams to ease swollen rivers, including the Mississippi.
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