Severe storms, heavy rains pound South

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Strong thunderstorms with possible tornadoes plowed across Mississippi and into Alabama on Wednesday, damaging homes, knocking down trees and causing scattered power outages. No deaths or serious injuries were reported.

Storms that caused widespread damage in Mississippi moved into west Alabama at midmorning, leaving roads in Lamar County covered with trees and water. Several dirt roads were washed out.

"We did have reports of a funnel cloud, but we didn't have any touch down," said Ralph Harrison, the emergency management director.

Officials dismissed about 800 elementary and high school students as the storm approached Carbon Hill, the Walker County town that was struck in a November outbreak of tornadoes that killed 12 people in Alabama.

Alan Trotter, an assistant school superintendent, said all the students were in portable classrooms because of destruction from the 2002 tornado and an earlier fire.

Earlier in Mississippi, a possible tornado damaged dozens of homes and other buildings in the northern counties of Chickasaw and Monroe.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove declared a state of emergency in the hardest-hit counties, making state resources available to local governments.

Amy Carruth, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said Wednesday's storm had tracked across Chickasaw County about 10:30 a.m. before entering Monroe County -- damaging as many as 80 structures.

"We're talking about damage to houses, trailers, trees and power lines," said Monroe County Sheriff Ruble Maxey Jr.