There are now at least 16 people dead after tornadoes ripped through the South on Easter Sunday and throughout the night, leaving more than one million without power.
The tornadoes spawned from an intense storm system that hit Central Texas early on Sunday and caused massive damage. It then traveled through Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.
The emergency management agency in Mississippi said that 11 people died in Walthall, Lawrence and Jefferson Davis counties as a result of the storm. There were five others who lost their lives in Murry County, Georgia.
Four of the five who died resided in a local trailer park an hour outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Five others were injured.
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama all declared states of emergency to recover from the damage caused by the storms that reportedly spawned 41 tornadoes in 24 hours. There is a great deal of water damage repairs that need to be made.
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By Monday morning, the storms made their way through northern Florida, Virginia and the Carolinas. Two tornado watches were still in place until noon, and the storms were capable of damaging winds and hail.
Heavy rains are expected to continue throughout Monday evening, with more than 160 million people under wind alerts. States affected include New England and almost every state located east of the Mississippi River.
Related: Mississippi Ravaged by Tornadoes as State Battles COVID-19
Mississippi officials haven’t released information about the deceased yet, but they did reveal that one of their deputies, Robert Ainsworth, and his wife were among the victims.
In a statement on Facebook, the department shared the sad news:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Deputy Robert Ainsworth and his lovely wife, Paula. We, at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, would like to offer our most sincere condolences to the families of both of these fine individuals.
Robert was a United States Marine Corps veteran and a long time employee here. Mrs. Paula was a former Justice Court Deputy Clerk at the Lawrence County Justice Court and currently a Justice Court Deputy Clerk for the Walthall County Justice Court.
Robert left this world a hero, as he shielded Mrs. Paula during the tornado. He was a very valuable employee and will be greatly missed. Please remember to pray for LCSO along with their families during this tragedy.
Rest In Peace, Brother. We have the watch from here. Job well done, Sir.”
Related: Tornado Cuts Brutal Swath Through Tennessee, Killing Nineteen
