A deadly series of storms swept across the South this weekend, killing two people, triggering mass blackouts, and exposing fragile infrastructure as new threats loom.
At a Glance
- Two people were killed by falling trees during severe storms across Mississippi and Georgia
- An EF-1 tornado in Arkansas injured one person and damaged homes
- Nearly 150,000 people lost power from Texas to South Carolina
- Austin, Texas, saw 72,000 homes without electricity for nearly 24 hours
- Forecasters warn of more storms with 100 mph winds and giant hail
Deadly Winds and Tornado Strikes
The South was battered by violent storms over the weekend that left devastation in their wake. In Mississippi, a tree crushed a vehicle in Lafayette County, killing the occupant, while in Banks County, Georgia, another fallen tree killed a person inside their home. Thousands across the region woke up to power outages, downed trees, and roads littered with debris.
In Arkansas, an EF-1 tornado struck the city of Van Buren, injuring one person and damaging several homes. The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings for northern Mississippi, where many residents sought shelter as sirens wailed through the night.
Watch a report: Storms Kill 2, Cause Blackouts Across South.
Austin’s Prolonged Power Crisis
Austin, Texas, was hit particularly hard, with over 72,000 homes losing power after fierce storms damaged lines and transformers. Entire neighborhoods, including Shoal Creek Blvd, were plunged into darkness, some for nearly 24 hours.
Residents expressed frustration over poor communication from Austin Energy. “None of this is happening as quickly as any of us would like it to,” admitted spokesperson Matt Mitchell, citing widespread damage and varied restoration timelines. Despite the deployment of hundreds of utility workers and mutual aid teams, thousands remained without basic services well into the week.
Power restoration has progressed, but vulnerable systems and aging infrastructure continue to make recovery slow and uneven.
Another Round of Storms Approaches
Meteorologists warn that the next wave of severe weather is on its way. The National Weather Service forecasts destructive wind gusts up to 100 mph and hailstones as large as five inches for areas stretching from southwest Oklahoma to northern Texas. With the South still reeling, these forecasts have stirred fresh fears.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp voiced his condolences, saying, “Join us in praying for the loved ones of a Georgian tragically lost tonight due to the severe storms.”
As storm systems become more frequent and ferocious, calls for infrastructure modernization and improved emergency preparedness grow louder. For communities across the South, survival now hinges not just on resilience—but on readiness.
