The most recent death was of 52-year-old Jacqueline Williams, whose car skidded into a rain-swollen creek. She was a resident of the town of Florence, population 4,000, in Rankin County, Mississippi.
shout out to our Uber driver who was crazy enough to drive in a flood/tornado warning pic.twitter.com/TD8lOVFCBC
— Molly Chrisman (@mollychrisman) April 5, 2017
Elsewhere in the state, in the small town of Glendora, Shirley Thomas was killed by a tree falling on her house. Two more deaths were reported in Louisiana and a fifth in South Carolina.
Upper Riverdale Rd. closed at Garden Walk Blvd. in Clayton County due to flooding. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/vk8yyKColf
— Justin Wilfon (@JustinWilfonWSB) April 5, 2017
A total of 75 million Americans were reported to be at risk from severe weather, primarily in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida. Storm watches are in effect across even more territory, from as far north as New York and as far west as Missouri.
Wow. Rain took down this retaining wall at a shopping center in #ForsythCounty. pic.twitter.com/WNlM27duoR
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) April 5, 2017
Lightning and tornadoes wreaked havoc in Alabama, causing "significant damage" to at least 25 homes in Henry and DeKalb Counties and leaving hundreds without power. No serious injuries were reported. Thirty Alabama counties canceled school on Wednesday.
Pouring at Ansley Golf Club in Midtown Atlanta. #StormWatchOn2 pic.twitter.com/LRXr9ccLKt
— Matt Johnson (@MJohnsonWSB) April 5, 2017
Alabama governor Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency and deployed 50 National Guard soldiers throughout the Yellowhammer State. "Alabama is no stranger to the impact severe weather can have on communities and the devastation that can occur when the weather takes a turn for the worse," Bentley said in the statement.
A giant oak splits, crashing on this Lilburn house. Family just now getting home to assess the damage. #11alive pic.twitter.com/dH9QHVJA7z
— Rebecca Lindstrom (@LindstromNews) April 5, 2017
"I have issued a State of Emergency as a precautionary measure to ensure state resources are on standby and are ready to assist impacted communities should the need arise. I also want to encourage individuals to stay weather aware and have a method to receive the latest weather alerts."
This is why YOU need to stay in….Knox Abbot Drive, Cayce
— Marybeth Jacoby (@MarybethJacoby) April 5, 2017
picture courtesy of @wltx viewer Tammy Pugh pic.twitter.com/baQPogvuaF
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards also put his state on "high alert" and urged people to stay off the roads. "It is an extremely dangerous weather event," he told reporters.
Extensive flooding occurring in Columbia. Notice the stop sign circled. #scwx pic.twitter.com/zePT3945Qe
— News 19 WLTX (@WLTX) April 5, 2017
A tornado made its warpath through south Georgia just hours after lightning strikes damaged homes less than 30 miles outside of Atlanta. Georgia Power has reported around 5,000 people without power as of Wednesday afternoon. The Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, was forced to postpone.
Augusta Road at Chris Drive in West Columbia! pic.twitter.com/BgOaLrbP1r
— Paul Kirby (@swlexledger) April 5, 2017
Storms will continue throughout the southeast through Wednesday night.
