Nine people died in a tornado on Thursday, the search for more victims continues

January 13 (UPI) — At least nine people have died and recovery efforts continue a day after dozens of tornadoes hit the Deep South.

Seven people were killed in Otauga County in central Alabama and two others were killed in Georgia on Thursday. At least 37 tornadoes were reported as storms tore roofs off houses and scattered debris.

Searches continued Friday in Otauga County as officials were still unsure whether anyone who might have lived in the damaged homes was counted, state emergency management spokesman Ricky Adams told CNN Friday.

The tornado that swept through Selma was rated EF-2, meaning it had winds of at least 111 mph. Neighboring Otauga County was hit by an EF-3 tornado, meaning wind gusts of at least 136 mph.

The damage “was far worse than anything I imagined,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said during a visit to Selma Friday. “There’s just no roof, the trees are like toothpicks.”

On Thursday, Ivey said state of emergency for the six counties of Otauga, Chambers, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, and Tallapus.

“I am saddened to learn that six Alabamas have died in the storms that have raged through our state,” she said in a statement. statement. “I pray for their loved ones and communities. We are all too familiar with destructive weather, but our people are resilient.

Ivey also said she would contact President Joe Biden and invite him to declare a state of emergency in the region.

Members of the council of the hard-hit city of Selma held a meeting emergency meeting Thursday night on the sidewalk outside City Hall and agreed to allocate $2 million from the budget surplus for disaster recovery. Some council members were unable to attend the meeting due to extensive damage to their homes, officials said.

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