The trail of destruction was at least half a mile wide and overwhelmed rural Lee County's coroner's office, forcing it to call in help from the state.Drones equipped with heat-seeking devices had scanned the area for survivors, but the dangerous conditions halted the search late Sunday, Jones said. Rescuers planned to resume the search at daylight Monday.
Levi Baker, who lives near the hard-hit area in Alabama, took a chainsaw to help clear a path for ambulances and other first-responder vehicles. He said some houses were demolished and that trees were uprooted or snapped in half. One house was swept off its foundation and was sitting in the middle of the road, he said.
Jones said the twister traveled straight down a county road in the rural community of Beauregard, reducing homes to slabs.The National Weather Service confirmed late Sunday that a tornado with at least an F3 rating caused the destruction in Alabama. Although the statement did not give exact wind estimates, F3 storms typically are gauged at wind speeds of between 158 and 206 mph.
In a tweet late Sunday, President Trump said:"To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe. Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming. To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!"
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