Tornadoes and floods have wreaked havoc on several southern U.S. states in the days following Christmas.
According to Christian Today, the dangerous weather conditions have caused the deaths of at least 41 people, as well as destroyed buildings and impeded holiday traffic.
Reuters reports that at least 11 people were killed in Dallas by tornadoes, one of which sustained winds of up to 200 miles per hour.
Meteorologists say that the tornado was especially surprising because the tornado season is generally in spring and summer, not winter.
"It is total devastation," Garland, Texas Police spokesman Lieutenant Pedro Barineau said. "It is a very difficult time to be struck by such a horrible storm the day after Christmas.”
Tornadoes were also reported in Arkansas on Sunday. In addition, Alabama and Mississippi experienced torrential rains and flooding.
“We're just a mess here. It's a really serious situation,” said Monroe, Mississippi County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell. “We've got all our deputies out. We've got all the fire departments out. I wasn't expecting this."
Twenty inches of rain was reported in Gadsden, Alabama between 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and 3 p.m. Christmas Day, which caused flash floods.
Many residents of the states affected have lost power. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has declared some counties in a state of emergency in an effort to get assistance to those in need sooner.
Publication date: December 28, 2015
