CENTER POINT, Ala.,None — Utility crews are getting a better look at the damage sustained during a series of tornadoes in Alabama that packed 150-mph winds.
Dozens of Center Point, Ala., businesses were in the direct path of the major storm. The American Red Cross released new numbers Tuesday that said more than 500 homes were either destroyed or badly damaged from the tornadoes. At least two people died during the storm.
Channel 2's Craig Lucie has spent the past two days in areas hit the hardest and spoke to a security guard who said looters tried to get inside several of the damaged banks.
"After the storm hit, it was a couple of hours after, we had a couple of problems," said security officer Anthony Skinner.
Lucie asked him what kind of problems, while Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies and police officers stood nearby.
PHOTOS: Tornado damage in Alabama
"Well, you know, you have young kids that were trying to get into the bank," Skinner said.
Skinner said police didn't arrest anyone after people took off running from the bank around 6 a.m. Monday. The storm hit at 3:30 a.m. and peeled away the roof of a Wells Fargo bank and damaged a vet clinic on Center Point Parkway.
"One of the kennel areas is pretty messed up," explained employee Diane Bowers. She said they were worried they would find their boarded animals loose in the streets, but they were lucky.
"All the animals somehow made it. We had, like, 21 dogs and 12 cats and they made it. I don't know how they did because the building next to us is completely gone," Bowers said.
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