Tornado Outbreak Kills at Least 7; More Than Two Dozen Twisters Confirmed

A tornado outbreak stretched into a second full day of destruction and tragedy as the storm system shifted into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, killing four more people in Virginia.

The storm system has spanned hundreds of miles and more than a dozen states since the first tornado was spawned early Tuesday morning in Texas. Since then, hundreds of residences have been demolished and towns in several regions are faced with an extensive cleanup from these damaging storms.

(MORE: Check the Severe Weather Threat)

As of Thursday morning, survey teams from the National Weather Service have confirmed 26 tornadoes in this outbreak, and crews will likely confirm more on Thursday. These twisters have killed a total of seven people, and one more was killed by a falling tree in South Carolina.

Here's a look at the latest impacts.

Virginia

Four people were killed by reported tornadoes in the Commonwealth on Wednesday – the first two killer tornadoes reported in Virginia in the month of February since records began, according to USA Today.

The Associated Press reported two men and a 2-year-old child were killed when their mobile home was destroyed by an apparent tornado in the town of Waverly Wednesday afternoon. In Appomattox County, Virginia, a man who went missing after severe weather destroyed his home in Evergreen was found dead Wednesday evening, WDBJ-TV said. The victims have not been identified.

The three victims in Waverly were found approximately 300 yards from their mobile home, and their bodies were taken to a medical examiner's office in Norfolk for identification.

"Due to significant debris from the storm, much of Route 460 and Route 40 within and heading into town are impassable," Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in an email. "There are also reports of flooding and high water in this area. VDOT is in the process of setting up detours. In the meantime, motorists are advised for their safety to delay/avoid travel through that immediate area."

(MORE: Is El Niño to Blame for These Tornadoes?)

Timothy Williams, 44, was with a friend taking his new car for a drive right as the storm hit, according to the AP. 

"It picked the car right off the ground, and put it right back on the ground," Williams told the AP. He added that the storm took down electrical wires "in a big ball of fire, thrashing all about each other." He and his friend escaped uninjured. 

More than 20 people were injured after two possible tornadoes touched down in Tappahannock, according to NBC 12. Those injured were taken to a local hospital while crews worked to rescue several victims still trapped in the debris.

"I thought world was ending," Tappahannock resident John Winder told NBC 12.

Governor McAuliffe declared a state of emergency due to the severe weather caused by the storm, according to a release. He says state emergency officials are monitoring the situation closely and are responding in support of local emergency management officials and first responders. 

According to Dominion Power, more than 35,000 customers throughout the state were without power as of Wednesday night.

Pennsylvania

Multiple buildings in Salisbury Township were destroyed by the storm Wednesday, including two 600-foot chicken houses, the AP reported.

Across the street from the chicken houses, which contained 16,000 birds, the roof of a house was blown off, according to Lancaster Online. Pieces of metal became lodged in trees, many of which were also stripped of their branches. 

In Lancaster County, the storm collapsed a barn and tore off the roof of the Pequea Evangelical Congregational Church Wednesday, Lancaster Online also reported. A building was partially collapsed on East Harrisburg Avenue and a roof was blown off of a building on Bossler Road. High water was reported on several roads and emergency crews had to be dispatched to help stranded motorists in Salisbury, Rapho, Mount Joy and Sadsbury townships.

The NWS will send a survey team to Lancaster County Thursday to determine if the damage was caused by a tornado, the AP also said. Injuries have not yet been reported.

Washington D.C.

More than 4,000 of Pepco's customers were affected by power outages as of Wednesday night, according to the company's website. Most of those outages had been restored by Thursday morning.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed rain soaking the city and floodwaters inundating streets.

Many people needed rescuing after their vehicles became trapped in high water throughout the area Wednesday, reports NBC Washington.

New York 

High winds tipped over a tractor-trailer on the George Washington Bridge Wednesday night, reports ABC 7. The incident occurred on the Outbound Upper Level, where the truck had been traveling on the eastbound lanes before being blown over into the westbound lanes. All lanes are now closed. The truck appeared to be empty, but fuel was spilled. 

In Westchester County, gusting winds downed a tree onto the Metro-North tracks Wednesday night, reports PIX 11. A northbound train on the Hudson line collided with the tree, but sustained minimal damage and managed to make it to Irvington Station. No injuries were reported.

North Carolina

Severe storms left damage in the Tar Heel State Wednesday afternoon. In Wayne County, a mobile home was destroyed by strong winds or possibly a tornado near Indian Springs, according to an NWS storm report.

WRAL.com reported the roof was torn off of a home near Oxford and a tree collapsed on another home nearby. The resident of the second home, who has lived there for more than 50 years, weathered the storm in a bathtub. A local farmer lost two silos, a tractor trailer and another piece of equipment in the storm, but his herd of cattle were unharmed.

(PHOTOS: Tornadoes Leave Damage Across the South)

Straight-line winds blew cars into a ditch near the Fayetteville Regional Airport, WRAL.com also said. 

As of Thursday morning, almost 47,000 customers in the Carolinas remained without power, according to Duke Energy.

There were reports of softball-sized hail in areas throughout the state.

Hail was reported near Townsville and Kerr Lake in Vance County, WRAL.com added. Hail was also reported in Henderson.

South Carolina

Darlington County officials confirmed to the Morning News that 58-year-old Michael Gaines Sr. was killed by a falling tree brought down by strong winds Wednesday. He stopped along Gilchrist Road in Darlington to clear storm debris from the road when the tree fell on him, the report added.

Louisiana

Two people were killed Tuesday at a trailer park in Convent, where dozens of trailers were destroyed by a confirmed EF2 tornado with wind speeds as high as 135 mph.

One of the two people killed has been identified as 59-year-old David Eugene Swann of Satsuma, Alabama, according to the Advocate. The other fatality was an unidentified male, an official told the Advocate.

Nine tornadoes have been confirmed so far in Louisiana, four of which were rated EF2.

Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a state of emergency Tuesday for seven different parishes across the state, including St. Johns, Assumption and Washington following the destructive storms.

“I ask all Louisianans to pray for the victims of the terrible storms that touched down in Louisiana today and especially at the Sugar Hill RV Park in Convent,” said Gov. Edwards. "We will do all that we can to help restore the families, businesses and communities destroyed by this tragedy.” 

Several reported tornadoes left damage in southeastern Louisiana late Tuesday morning, and the threat continued into the afternoon in that area. Façades of buildings were peeled back by the strong winds, and roofs were tossed into nearby parking lots or fields in the Baton Rouge area.

(WATCH: Tornado Captured on Louisiana Traffic Cam)

Major damage occurred late Tuesday morning in Prairieville, southeast of Baton Rouge, where a Gold's Gym and several other buildings nearby were heavily damaged around the time a tornado was reported in the area. Just 18 miles northeast, in Livingston, several homes had their roofs completely torn off. 

A radar confirmed tornado touched down near Paincourtville in Assumption Parish Tuesday and tracked eastward through parts of Belle Rose, Donaldsonville, Welcome and Convent. 

The Assumption Parish Sheriff reported severe damage to businesses in Paincourtville and damage to a home in Belle River. Photos on Twitter showed the Paincourtville water tower destroyed, semi trucks at a Paincourtville business tipped over, and houses in both Paincourtville and Bell Rose torn apart. 

Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, a possible tornado was reported near Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner. 

There were reports of cars damaged at a parking lot near the airport. High winds sheared the brick and mortar from the rear wall of the New Mount Bethel Baptist Church. Ronald Myers, who lives across the street, believes it was a tornado.

"My wife came over to turn the [church] alarm off and she came back home and said, 'Baby, the wall behind the church has done fell down.'"

He said he struggled to keep his footing in the wind, and his wife was nearly knocked down.

"I weigh 242 pounds. If it could move me, it was moving," he said.

Florida

For the second time in as many weeks, a large tornado, rated EF3, left major damage Tuesday night in Escambia County, located in the far western portion of the Florida Panhandle. Gov. Rick Scott, who traveled to Pensacola to view the damage and declared a state of emergency for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, said the twister heavily damaged more than 70 homes and 24 apartments in Escambia County.

The National Weather Service confirmed a twister that crossed Interstate 10, flipping several cars and a tractor trailer on the Escambia Bay Bridge, leaving the highway closed from mile marker 17 to mile marker 43. 

“I heard a noise and it just came through. It’s way destroyed,” Clarence Wells Jr., a resident at The Moorings apartment complex, told the Pensacola News Journal. “I was right by the door. We were in the living room and boom. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

(MORE: Residents Cope after Tornado Destroys Pensacola Neighborhood)

At least six injuries were reported at the complex, but none of those were believed to be major, officials said. The Escambia County Fire and Rescue also reported a "catastrophic" gas leak. On-scene crews aided in search and rescue duties for any who may be entrapped by debris.

Four people were taken to the hospital with injuries from Grand Baroque Apartments on Scenic Highway, according to a FOX 10 report.

At least two more tornadoes were in progress in the state Wednesday, the NWS has confirmed. An EF1 twister left 33 homes damaged – five with major damage – in Port Charlotte, and an EF0 was confirmed in Murdock.

There have been no fatalities reported from these tornadoes.

Mississippi

Lamar County officials confirmed to WDAM-TV that there was one tornado fatality near the town of Purvis on Tuesday. Vann Byrd of the Lamar County Emergency Management Agency says the death occurred in a mobile home west of Purvis.

The victim was identified as 73-year-old Harris Dale Purvis. This tornado was rated EF2 by a survey crew from the NWS.

Two radar-confirmed tornadoes were spotted in Mississippi early Tuesday evening, one in southern Marion County and the other near Bogalusa in Pearl River County. According to the SPC, as many as five tornadoes were reported Tuesday in southern parts of the state.

Gov. Phil Bryant issued a state of emergency for all areas of the state that may be affected by severe weather, ahead of Tuesday's storms, Mississippi News Now reported.

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Three EF1 tornadoes hit the state during this outbreak, according to the NWS. Those twisters were confirmed in Greene, Pearl River and Lincoln counties. Another tornado was confirmed in Yazoo County, rated EF0 following a damage survey. In Simpson County, another EF0 tornado was confirmed.

Alabama

The NWS has confirmed five tornadoes in Alabama from this tornado outbreak:

• EF1: Marion County, near Hackleburg
• EF1: Houston County
• EF1: Houston and Dale counties
• EF0: Pickens County
• EF0: Houston County

Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency early Tuesday evening as the storm systems approached Alabama. 

According to officials, about 100 homes were damaged by the storm Tuesday in Dothan and roofs were ripped off of homes in Rehobeth and Headland, according to the AP. At least 14,000 customers of Alabama Power Co. were without power during the storm's height. 

(MORE: Your Tornado Risk By Month)

Several buildings in downtown Dothan sustained minor flooding damage and as many as 40 roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines, AP also reports.

Georgia

A survey crew from the NWS confirmed an EF1 tornado hit Grady County in southern Georgia Tuesday night. The twister had maximum winds of 90 mph and was 400 yards wide, according to the damage survey. It was in progress for 12.9 miles.

Texas

Classes were canceled Tuesday in two southern Texas school districts after power outages and damage made it dangerous for students to attend. On Facebook, the Brackett Independent School District said damage to school buildings and vehicles from Tuesday morning's storms forced officials to call off school, while power outages canceled classes for the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District. About 10,000 customers in Del Rio were without power Tuesday morning, AEP Texas reported.

A Houston Independent School District bus driver suffered minor injuries when a school bus flipped onto its side in rainy conditions, according to the AP. There were no students aboard the bus when the accident occurred along Highway 288 at about dawn Tuesday morning, Houston ISD spokesperson Lila Hollin told the AP.

The NWS confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down early Tuesday morning in Wharton County, east-southeast of Boiling-lago.