Tornadoes, Strong Winds Caused Property Damage Across South

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Damaging winds and possible tornadoes toppled trees, damaged buildings and blew cars off a highway Wednesday as powerful storms crossed the South from Texas to Florida to Georgia late last week.

The National Weather Service issued numerous tornado warnings, mainly in southeast Alabama, northwest Florida and southwest Georgia, and cautioned that gusts of hurricane- force winds exceeding 90 mph (145 kph) were possible in parts of northeast Louisiana and central Mississippi. Some areas also were pelted with large hail.

In Pensacola Beach, Florida, a confirmed tornado badly damaged homes and apartments, the Pensacola News Journal reported. Five fires were also reported around the county, which saw heavy thunderstorms, multiple lightning strikes and flash flooding.

Escambia County officials said they are now waiving permit fees for severe weather damage repairs to buildings and fences, through Oct. 16. A county department will also have a permitting technician stationed at the Santa Rosa Island Authority beginning Tuesday to assist beach residents, news outlets reported.

That’s welcome news for many beach residents that are still waiting on repairs from Hurricane Sally in 2020.

In Alabama, the Eufaula Police Department said confirmed tornado damage was reported in the city near the Georgia state line. Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs told WSFA-TV that no injuries were immediately reported, but the storm collapsed a wall of a building and downed 30 or 40 trees.

Local news outlets showed viewer-submitted video of a tornado rumbling through nearby Henry County, Alabama, and of roof damage in the area.

In southwest Georgia, officials were reporting downed trees and snapped power lines, said Richard Martin, emergency management director for rural Calhoun County. Connie Hobbs, the elected commission chairman for neighboring Baker County, said hail stones up to golf-ball size had fallen in her yard.

Sheriff Larry Rowe of Cass County in eastern Texas told KYTX-TV that some vehicles were blown off a highway Wednesday afternoon as the county was under a tornado warning. There were no immediate reports of injuries.