Survivors in US storms thankful to see Christmas

  • 26/12/2015
The remains of the Beverly Chapel CME Church on old Highway 4 are seen after a tornado struck Holly Springs, Mississippi (Reuters)
The remains of the Beverly Chapel CME Church on old Highway 4 are seen after a tornado struck Holly Springs, Mississippi (Reuters)

Survivors of storms in the southern United States say they are grateful to see Christmas.

Dozens of people lost their homes when torrential rain and deadly tornadoes ripped through Tennessee and neighbouring states on Thursday (local time), killing at least 14 people.

Tony Goodwin emerged from a storm shelter with seven others to find his Linden house had been knocked off its foundation and hurled down a hill by storm winds, the Associated Press reports.

Two of his neighbours were killed.

"It makes you thankful to be alive with your family," he says.

Parts of Mississippi remain under flood warnings, with a strong storm crossing the state expected to produce hail and winds of more than 65km/h. It brings the risk of falling trees, downed power lines and flash flooding, the US National Weather Service says.

The American Red Cross of North Mississippi has been providing donated toys to a centre in Holly Springs for children whose families were affected by the storms. Two of the seven people killed in Mississippi were in Holly Springs.

More severe weather is also predicted for Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, with tornadoes possible.

At least 14 people have died in the storms, including a seven-year-old boy who was in a car that was swept up and tossed by strong winds. Three people were found in a car submerged in a creek, according to officials in Tennessee. Among the victims were a 19-year-old girl and two 22-year-old men.

Dozens were also injured in the storms and many are still missing.

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