Pleasant Grove, AL – In Photos: Hundreds Dead As Dozens Of Tornadoes Hit 6 Southern States

April 28, 2011 10:12 am

Pleasant Grove, AL – A spokeswoman for Alabama’s governor says storms that devastated the South left 180 people dead in that state, bringing the total death toll in the region to 269.

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Leah Garner, the deputy press secretary for Gov. Robert Bentley, said Thursday that the death toll in Alabama had climbed to 180. The storms that spawned dozens of tornadoes were part of the deadliest storm outbreak in decades. There were also deaths reported in five other states: 33 in Mississippi; 33 in Tennessee; 14 in Georgia; eight in Virginia; and one in Kentucky.

The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., says it received 137 tornado reports into Wednesday night.

Residents search through what is left of their homes Thursday, April 28, 2011 after a tornado hit Pleasant Grove just west of downtown Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Tiffany Wood walks through her backyard looking for belongings Thursday, April 28, 2011 after a tornado hit Pleasant Grove just west of downtown Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Residents search through what is left of their homes after a tornado hit Pleasant Grove just west of downtown Birmingham a day earlier, on Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Garry Ellard searches for friends Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Birmingham, Ala., after a tornado hit Pleasant Grove, just west of downtown Birmingham, a day earlier. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

The aftermath of overnight tornadoes show destroyed neighborhoods in Pratt City, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, April 28, 2011. Devastating storms and tornadoes raked though the U.S. South, killing at least 185 people as they ripped houses to rubble, flipped cars and uprooted trees and power lines, officials said on Thursday. REUTERS/Marvin Gentry

The remains of a house among storm debris in Pratt City, Alabama, USA, 28 April 2011. Severe weather and more than 100 tornados destroyed towns and killed more than 200 people across the southern USA, on 27 April 2011. EPA/CHRISTINE PRICHARD

A church is marked by rescue workers showing it has been searched for storm victims in Pratt City, Alabama, USA, 28 April 2011. Severe weather and more than 100 tornados destroyed towns and killed more than 200 people across the southern USA, on 27 April 2011. EPA/CHRISTINE PRICHARD

Residents survey storm damage in Pratt City, Alabama, USA, 28 April 2011. Severe weather and more than 100 tornados destroyed towns and killed more than 200 people across the Southern US on 27 April 2011. EPA/CHRISTINE PRICHARD

A police officer surveys storm damage in Pratt City, Alabama, USA, 28 April 2011. Severe weather and more than 100 tornados destroyed towns and killed more than 200 people across the southern USA on 27 April 2011. EPA/CHRISTINE PRICHARD

A person on a bicycle maneuvers around debris after homes and businesses were hit by strong storms and tornados in Pratt City, Alabama, USA, 28 April 2011. Severe weather and more than 100 tornados destroyed towns and killed more than 200 people across the southern USA on 27 April 2011. EPA/CHRISTINE PRICHARD

Residents begin the clean-up process after homes and businesses were hit by strong storms and tornados in Pratt City Alabama, USA, 28 April 2011. Severe weather and more than 100 tornados destroyed towns and killed more than 200 people across the southern USA on 27 April 2011. EPA/CHRISTINE PRICHARD

Residents inspect the aftermath of overnight tornadoes that left this part of Pratt City, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, in ruins April 28, 2011. Devastating storms and tornadoes raked though the U.S. South, killing at least 185 people as they ripped houses to rubble, flipped cars and uprooted trees and power lines, officials said on Thursday. REUTERS/Marvin Gentry

Overnight tornadoes leaves part of Pratt City, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, in ruins April 28, 2011. Devastating storms and tornadoes raked though the U.S. South, killing at least 185 people as they ripped houses to rubble, flipped cars and uprooted trees and power lines, officials said on Thursday. REUTERS/Marvin Gentry

Sal Merritt, left, and Edrich Barnes rest outside the remains of Alberta Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Thursday, April 28, 2011. The church was badly damaged by a tornado that left a path of destruction hundreds of yards wide. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

John Franklin, Jr, and his wife Kathy, help recover belongings from their son's home, in Bartow County, Ga. on Thursday, April 28, 2011. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through the South, flattening homes and businesses and killing at least 215 people in six states in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Bob Andres)

Rescue workers search a destroyed business on State Route 151 in Ringgold, Ga. Thursday morning April 28, 2011. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through the South, flattening homes and businesses and killing at least 215 people in six states in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Brant Sanderlin)

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, second from right, tours storm damage in Cullman, Ala., Thursday, April 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Heath Meherg helps clean up his destroyed business in Cullman, Ala., Thursday, April 28, 2011. A swarm of tornadoes killed dozens of people across the state. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Firefighters search the rubble of a home in the Alberta City section of Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Thursday, April 29, 2011. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through the South, flattening homes and businesses and killing at least 215 people in six states in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

Greg Arndt carries belongings from a destroyed business in Cullman, Ala., Thursday, April 28, 2011, after tornadoes ripped through the area. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Heath Meherg helps clean up his destroyed business in Cullman, Ala., Thursday, April 28, 2011. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through the South, flattening homes and businesses and killing at least 215 people in six states in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Storm debris litters the street near blown-away businesses in downtown Cullman, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2011. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through the South, flattening homes and businesses and killing at least 215 people in six states in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

In this Wednesday, April 27, 2011 photo, a displaced dog is seen among debris in Tuscaloosa, Ala. A wave of severe storms laced with tornadoes wreaked havoc in the South on Wednesday AP

This is an aerial view of damage to downtown Cullman, Ala., Thursday, April 28, 2011. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through the South, flattening homes and businesses and killing at least 248 people in six states in the deadliest outbreak in nearly 40 years. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)