Danny MattesonMultiple tornadoes wreaked havoc in Mississippi Monday afternoon as severe storms swept across the southeastern U.S.
Pictures began pouring in via social media after the storm had passed showing devastation across the region — mostly in the Northeastern Mississippi city of Tupelo.(Via Twitter / @WCL_Shawn, @brandydavis01, @Charles_Loring)
Along with an image of what appears to be a destroyed gas station, one user wrote, “I think images are about to get worse out of Tupelo.” (Via Twitter / @TheTateProject)
According to Memphis’ WMC-TV, “Several tractor-trailers were reportedly blown off of the road at the busy intersection of US 78 and US 45.”
On YouTube one user posted a video showing a weatherman at Tupelo’s WTVA ordering the station’s staff to take cover as a tornado bore down on the station. (Via YouTube / Lucas Wiseman)
Weatherman: “Basement. Now. Let’s go. Now.”
A couple hours after the storm, details of the damage were scarce, but the Tupelo-based Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported an Outback Steakhouse had been “destroyed,” the Barnes Crossing Mall had been “hit,” and at least two gas stations were “flattened.”
No fatalities have yet been reported due to the tornado, but that’s subject to change. And The Weather Channel reports the same system could produce more tornadoes Monday evening and Tuesday.
We’ll update with more details as they come in.
