Southeast tornadoes: 4 killed in Alabama, Louisiana and Kentucky after storms slam region
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By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
At least four people were killed and over a dozen others hurt as suspected tornadoes slammed the southern U.S. on Monday, destroying homes and buildings, downing trees and causing power outages, officials said.
Tornadoes Carl Estes searches for books and other items from his church on County Road 911 that was completely destroyed by a tornado in Guntown, Miss., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP/Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)
Tornadoes This photo provided by Heather Welch show a tornado in Rosepine, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Heather Welch via AP/Heather Welch via AP)
Tornadoes Jason Ford stands in his damaged mobile home on Highway 567, north of Liberty, Miss., after an apparent tornado swept through the area, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Ernest Herndon/The Enterprise-Journal via AP/Ernest Herndon/The Enterprise-Journal via AP)
Tornadoes Firefighter Ryan Gilley, left, helps evacuate a mobile home with Decatur Fire & Rescue members after a tree fell on the home in Decatur, Ala., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Dan Busey/The Decatur Daily via AP/Dan Busey/The Decatur Daily via AP)
Tornadoes Cory Simpson of Decatur Fire & Rescue assess damage before evacuating a mobile home after a tree fell on the home in Decatur, Ala., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Dan Busey/The Decatur Daily via AP/Dan Busey/The Decatur Daily via AP)
Tornadoes People inspect damage at a gas station/convenience store in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, after a tornado went through the area. (Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP/Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP)
Tornadoes Shane Keith and other volunteers help search debris and try to salvage what they can from their church that was completely destroyed in a tornado that touched down in Guntown, Miss., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP/Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)
Tornadoes Shanika Mack, right, of Edwards, gets tarpaulin from Tracy Funches, left, with the Hinds County Emergency Operation Center, to cover damaged areas of her mother's home after a tornado ripped through their neighborhood around noon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in Edwards, Miss. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP/Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)
Tornadoes Joseph Lorax, of Edwards, works against time as he covers the roof of his mother's house with tarpaulin after a tornado ripped through her neighborhood around noon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in Edwards, Miss. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP/Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)
Tornadoes Members of the Pratts-Friendship Fire Department work to check an area on Highway 370 near Baldwyn, Miss., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, as they clear debris from the road after a tornado passed through the area. (Adam Robison/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP/Adam Robison/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)
Tornadoes Lee County officials and the Pratts-Friendship Fire Department work to check an area on Highway 370 near Baldwyn, Miss., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, as they clear debris from the road after a tornado passed through the area. (Adam Robison/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP/Adam Robison/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)
Tornadoes This photo shows some damage by a tornado in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, after storms went through the area. (AP Photo/Brad Kemp/AP Photo/Brad Kemp)
Tornadoes This photo shows some damage by a tornado in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, after storms went through the area. (AP Photo/Brad Kemp/AP Photo/Brad Kemp)
Tornadoes Authorities, back left, inspect the grounds of Johnny Downs Sports Complex in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, after a tornado went through the area. (Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP/Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP)
Tornadoes A man stands outside what is left of a gas station and convenience store in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, after a tornado went through the area. (Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP/Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP)
Tornadoes A beam and other rubble is strewn on the ground in front of what was Hope Baptist Church in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, after a tornado went through the area. (Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP/Melissa Gregory/The Daily Town Talk via AP)
Tornadoes Debris is scatters on the ground on John Allison Drive after a tornado went through the area in Alexandria, La., Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Brad Kemp/AP Photo/Brad Kemp)
Tornadoes Atalaya Price, of Edwards, walks by what's left of her new mobile home after a tornado ripped through her neighborhood around noon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in Edwards, Miss. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP/Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)
The death toll rose to four after heavy overnight rains caused flooding in Greenup County, Kentucky. Water rescue crews were called in Tuesday to aid two people, and at least one of them died, Kentucky State Police Trooper Bobby King told The Associated Press.
Nearly 540 miles away in Town Creek, Alabama, a married couple also died in the storm, Lawrence County sheriff’s officials told AL.com. Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood identified the couple as Justin Godsey, 35, and Keisha Cross, 24, according to WVTM. Their son, Landen, was in critical condition Tuesday at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, WVTM reported.