Tornadoes kill at least 22 across the South leaving 1.3million without power as states open shelters despite virus lockdown orders because officials say the storm risk is ‘greater than COVID-19’
At least 22 people have been killed as dangerous storms rumbled through the Deep South on Easter Sunday
Officials in Alabama and Mississippi lifted lockdown orders to open shelters but warned residents to wear masks and gloves and to practice social distancing
Alexander City, Alabama Mayor defied the governor’s orders and refused to open shelters Sunday night
‘Life safety had to persist over everything else and the greater risk of the tornado overcame COVID,’ Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Greg Michel said to GMA Monday morning
There were over 40 reports of tornadoes as the storm spiraled in a destructive path form Texas and Arkansas across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and into the Carolinas
Eleven were killed in Mississippi, six in Georgia, four in South Carolina and one in Arkansas
Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
By MARLENE LENTHANG
DAILYMAIL.COM
13 April 2020
At least 22 people have been killed as dangerous thunderstorms and tornadoes rumbled through the Deep South on Easter Sunday into early Monday, forcing states to lift lockdown orders to allow locals to take shelter while practicing social distancing.
There were over 40 reports of tornadoes as the storm spiraled in a destructive path from Texas and Arkansas across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and into the Carolinas, damaging hundreds of homes and leaving 1.3million without power.
In Mississippi officials said the tornadoes’ threat to the community trumped that of COVID-19, forcing locals to flee their homes for sturdy shelters.
‘That’s always an issue – we emphasized to everyone that if they went into a shelter they had to maintain hygiene, wash their hands and use sanitizer and use masks but at the end of the day, life safety had to persist over everything else and the greater risk of the tornado overcame COVID,’ Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Greg Michel said to Good Morning America on Monday.
Speaking on the risk of coronavirus in shelters he said, ‘it’s still a concern but we’ve got folks who live in rural areas – shelters were the only option they had.’
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