Emergency management authorities are expected to sweep across parts of north Alabama throughout the day (Thursday) – to assess the damage caused by a couple of rounds of severe storms and possible tornadoes.
Around 11:00pm Wednesday, the weather service reported there was a “large and likely strong tornado” moving into DeKalb County. After the first storm passed through, causing damage, another storm was being tracked into Henagar just before midnight.
As a “tornado emergency” was declared late Wednesday by the National Weather Service in Huntsville, the DeKalb County emergency management agency reported “major damage” along Alabama Highway 75 in Henagar. Shortly before 6:00am, however, the EMA reported that the storms had primarily affected areas where there are few homes or other structures. A pregnant woman was taken to a hospital and another person suffered blunt force trauma – and the extent of their injuries weren’t immediately known. Approximately five other people were checked out at the scene for minor injuries. Only a few structures appeared to have sustained any damage.
In nearby Jackson County, the EMA reported that a mobile home was damaged on Highway 35 near County Road 11.
ALEA is reporting trees on the roadways in the Sand Mountain, Henagar and Ider areas, and debris on the roadways in Jackson County.
The collecting of information continues.