Severe storms slam the South, killing at least 4

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Emergency workers in Mississippi planned to go out Christmas Eve and survey the damage caused by storms that hit the South a day earlier, killing at least four people, flipping over cars, knocking out power to thousands and damaging several homes and businesses.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared an emergency for two southeastern counties where officials say four people died in the storms and 50 people were injured. Thousands remained without power today around Columbia, which is about 80 miles southeast of Jackson, officials said.

Marion County Emergency Management director Aaron Greer said one woman was killed Tuesday night in a mobile home and a second woman died in a business south of Columbia that was hit by the storm. Greer said today the storm's path was about a half a mile wide and one to one and a half miles long.

Greer said the 50 people injured in county were being treated at Marion General Hospital in Columbia and Forest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. He did not know the extent of the injuries.

Summer Davis with the Jones County Emergency Management office said a man and woman were killed inside a mobile home in the Calhoun community west of Laurel.