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More Than 200 Killed in Violent US Storms

   VOA News  April 28, 2011
   Angela Milchak uses a cell phone to photograph damage to her house and
   cars from fallen trees after storm system battered the Tiftonia
   neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tenn, April 27, 2011

Photo: AP

   Angela Milchak uses a cell phone to photograph damage to her house and
   cars from fallen trees after storm system battered the Tiftonia
   neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tenn, April 27, 2011

   U.S. emergency officials say more than 200 people have been killed in
   violent storms and tornadoes that have torn through southern U.S.
   states in recent days.
   The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Craig Fugate, is
   traveling Thursday to the state of Alabama, which suffered what the
   governor called a "major catastrophic event."
   Tornadoes throughout the area flattened homes and tossed debris
   throughout a wide area.
   Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said the severe weather has killed 131
   people in his state, and he expects the death toll to rise. He said
   several Alabama counties have experienced massive property destruction,
   and that up to one million people may be without power.
   He said Alabama officials will ask U.S. President Barack Obama Thursday
   to expedite a major disaster aid request. Late Wednesday, Mr. Obama
   declared a federal state of emergency for Alabama, authorizing
   assistance for its 67 counties.
   An Alabama emergency official said some 2,000 National Guard soldiers
   are helping in rescue operations in the state.
   On Wednesday, a tornado devastated Alabama's city of Tuscaloosa, where
   there are 36 confirmed deaths. Buildings throughout the city were
   destroyed, and many city operations are unable to function.
   In addition to Alabama, officials say the storms have killed 32 people
   in Mississippi. Fatalities have also been reported in Georgia,
   Tennessee, Virginia and Arkansas.
   The overall casualty count makes for the deadliest series of storms to
   hit the southern U.S. region in some 40 years.
   The storm system moved north late Wednesday - early Thursday through
   the states of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, where tornado
   watches and warnings went into effect.
   The storms, which began Monday and also hit Texas and Missouri, are the
   latest to pound the southern and central United States. Earlier this
   month, three days of severe weather killed at least 45 people in the
   region.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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