Storms to hit Pandemic hot zones, elsewhere

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At least six people were killed on Sunday as a strong storm system swept across Mississippi and Louisiana, spinning off more than a dozen tornadoes and leaving behind a path of destruction, state and local authorities said.

The storms hit on Easter Sunday as residents across the U.S. South, like most Americans, were under strict “stay-at-home” orders by the governors of Mississippi and Louisiana due to the nationwide coronavirus pandemic.

All six fatalities were recorded in Mississippi, the state’s emergency management agency said on Twitter, and tornado warnings remained in place across several counties into the evening.

The National Weather Service said 13 tornadoes were believed to have touched down across the region.

Images on local media showed the devastation left behind by twisters, including destroyed homes, downed power lines, twisted billboards and overturned cars.

The city of Monroe, Louisiana, posted photos of wrecked buildings on social media and said that Monroe Regional Airport had canceled all flights until further notice due to debris on the runway and weather conditions.

“By the grace of God, early reports show only a few minor injuries. Pray for our city! Many neighbors & friends suffered catastrophic damage,” Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said on Twitter.

Tornado warnings were also issued for parts of Texas into Sunday night.

Mississippi and Louisiana – two states dealing with an increase of coronavirus cases – were hit Sunday with a deadly storm system that produced dozens of tornadoes that ripped through hundreds of homes and buildings, resulting in at least 18 deaths reported in the region.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) said severe thunderstorms will barrel now toward the East Coast, with the threat stretching from southeast Georgia through the Carolinas into Virginia through Monday afternoon.

"We've had over 50 reports of tornadoes over parts of the South and the Gulf Coast," Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean said on "Fox & Friends."

"The Storm Prediction Center said this is the area that's going to potentially see the damage, including tornadoes, long-lasting, catastrophic tornadoes and now we are getting reports of many deaths."

Late Sunday night, a rash of severe thunderstorms and at least one tornado ripped through Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, resulting in miles of downed power lines, uprooted trees and roadway flooding.

By the time the storm gave way to the cloudy Monday morning light, at least 20 people in two Tennessee counties were hospitalized with injuries and more than 150 structures had been damaged or destroyed.

East Ridge, East Brainerd, Collegedale and other areas in Hamilton County were badly damaged by the storm.
Hamilton County Schools officials said there were reports of extensive damage to East Brainerd Elementary at 7660 Goodwin Road. One school official had trouble getting close enough to the school, but said there were multiple reports that the roof is almost completely gone.

A reporter for WTVC Chattanooga, Bliss Zechman, tweeted that her house was "completely destroyed" during the storm.
"@MariahRockNC9 and I are safe, but very scared. We can't get through to 911. Please pray for us and everyone affected," she said in her tweet.
Zechman noted that she and her roommate had sought shelter at their neighbor's house, but weren't sure when they would get help.
She shared a photo of the damage, noting that the wind had "completely [blown] our door off."
Andy Smith, son of Hamilton County school board member Joe Smith, posted on social media that his home was completely destroyed.
"Tornado hit our house dead on in East Brainerd significant damage but we are all ok. #pleasepray," Andy Smith said.
Joe Smith confirmed that his son and family were okay, and also said he had heard of several other people's homes being damaged or destroyed.

Tree-toppling winds and swamping rains are expected to wallop the tri-state area throughout the day Monday, part of a monstrous storm system that triggered tornado warnings in parts of the South and killed more than a dozen people.

Driving rain began pounding New York City before sunrise, leading to water pooling in sewers and drenched blacktops shortly after dawn. The storms are expected to intensify over the course of the day, threatening damaging winds, hail and flooding in the afternoon as a cold front moves through. A tornado or two can't be ruled out either, Storm Team 4 says.

A high wind warning is in effect for most of the region through 6 p.m., and Storm Team 4 warns gusts could exceed 60 mph. Those strong winds could rip down trees and power lines, potentially causing widespread outages.

They could also damage even sturdy and well-secured tent structures, the National Weather Service says, raising concerns about the already vulnerable COVID-19 patients being treated in field hospitals across the metro area. Tri-state leaders say their makeshift hospitals are protected, including the one at Central Park, where nearly 50 virus patients were being treated as of late Sunday. Five of the Central Park patients are in ICU care, city officials said