A tornado ravaged the town of Wetumpka, Alabama, on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least one and causing significant damage to buildings in the area.
Mayor Jerry Willis told the Montgomery Advertiser said at least one person was injured as a result of the storm as of 4:30 p.m., adding that the injury was not serious.
The severe tornado destroyed multiple buildings, completely flattening everything from homes to historic churches.
Residents also reported instances of downed trees, power lines, and overturned vehicles.
The town’s police station also suffered serious damage, WSFA reported.
Alabama Power said in a statement that at least 2,000 customers are without power, and that the company would be sending personnel to assess the damage.
The town’s sheriff placed a 6:00 p.m. curfew for residents in the downtown area, which would stay in effect until 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Willis also urged residents to stay away from damaged areas while neighboring rescue crews assess the damage.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced that she would deploy state resources to assist residents in Elmore County:
The tornado passed over many areas of the southeastern U.S., as the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida until 5 p.m. CST.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.