Tornadoes kill 52, injure 100, as storms sweep across the South

Via CNN:

JACKSON, Tennessee (CNN) — Emergency crews searched on Wednesday morning for victims who might have been overlooked after violent storms and tornadoes roared through the mid-South overnight, killing at least 52 people, authorities said.

The storms ripped apart homes and trapped residents of university dorms and a retirement home in debris.

The trail of death stretched across four states, with four people killed in Alabama, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky, and 28 in Tennessee.

The storm system was becoming less intense as it moved east on Wednesday, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said, but the National Weather Service issued tornado and severe storm warnings and extreme weather still was possible.

President Bush said Wednesday he had called the governors of the affected states to offer help and to tell them that “the American people hold those who suffered up in prayer.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency was deploying teams to the area, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said Wednesday.

They’re predicting strong winds and thunderstorms for Charlotte, NC later today. Right now we’re under a high wind advisory. I hope that’s all it is, and nothing more.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by these devastating storms.