Updated March 26, 2021 at 4:07 AM ET
Deadly tornadoes that ripped through Alabama throughout Thursday remain a significant threat to other Southern states as the sun rises on Friday.
At least five deaths and multiple injuries have been reported in Calhoun County, Ala., after a tornado hit the region, county coroner Pat Brown told NPR Thursday.
Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings estimated Thursday night that hundreds of homes were destroyed or damaged in his state.
The tornado was part of a "particularly dangerous" system of storms rolling across the Deep South, just south of Birmingham, Ala.
The storm is a long-track "super cell" and produced multiple tornadoes in multiple counties across central Alabama. It traveled in excess of 100 miles before it hit the state. That system was clear of Alabama by midnight Friday, but continued heading east to Georgia overnight causing damage there as well.
The Georgian city of Newnan, southwest of Atlanta, was hit hard during the early morning hours of Friday, according to local reports. The population of Newnan hovers around 40,000.
Meteorologists said a tornado likely landed in the town at roughly around midnight.
Newnan Utilities worked through the night responding to power outages and reported gas leaks, the company shared on social media.
Following the storm, Newnan Police Department urged residents to remain off the roads due to "a large amount of damage" caused by downed trees and powerlines.
The department wrote, "By you being out driving and sightseeing, it is impeding our efforts to get to people that need help."
Most of the damage was to neighborhoods surrounding the town center, according to a local reporter on the ground. Police blocked off major roads with wreckage in the roadway.
Heavy damage to Newnan High School was also reported. Administrators for Coweta County Schools cancelled all classes, both in-person and virtual, Friday as clean up begins in the area.
The storm severely damaged parts of Newnan High School.
— Sabrina Silva (@SabSilv) March 26, 2021
Crews tell me they’ve never seen a storm cause this much damage here. @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/xBUV210IGq
Alabama hit hard
There are reports, images and videos showing significant damage in many communities particularly in the Eagle Point neighborhood in a suburb south of Birmingham. Through Thursday afternoon, there were ongoing rescues of people trapped in some of these homes.
In Shelby County, Alabama, the local sheriff's office reported two major storms hit the area Thursday afternoon and caused severe damage. Many residents were also displaced following storm damage to their homes, a press release indicated.
#GOESEast is keeping an eye on the southern U.S., where a major severe weather outbreak is expected today. Here we can see severe thunderstorms producing numerous #lightning strikes, with damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes likely across the region. pic.twitter.com/XKn5yeM3qB
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) March 25, 2021
Sheriff John Samaniego said in a statement, "Today was a tragic day for Shelby County. In the aftermath of these storms, we have seen the best of Shelby County. Neighbors helping neighbors. Businesses and kind citizens reaching out with donations of food and supplies."
Downed power lines and trees throughout the area left thousands without electricity after strong winds howled through the region.
By 1 a.m. Thursday, more than 26,000 homes were reported without power in Alabama, according to PowerOutage.Us. Georgia listed more than 19,000 without power by the same time.
Gov. Kay Ivey issued an emergency declaration as meteorologists warned that more twisters were likely on their way.
"I urge all Alabamians to closely monitor the weather system as it continues to impact portions of [Alabama], especially if you are in the line of the highest risk storms," Ivey wrote on Twitter.
Early warnings
Forecasters began warning about a significant weather event on Wednesday, and the potential outbreak was given the National Weather Service's rare top warning of "high risk."
Hastings, the director of Alabama's Management Agency said, "In Alabama, it's a matter of luck. But also luck favors the prepared."
Tornado sirens began been going off early Thursday morning and TV meteorologists have been on-air non-stop for hours. This was the second time in eight days that these same areas were threatened. Last week, there were more than 50 tornadoes reported in Alabama and Mississippi.
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