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Tornado Wrecks Buildings in Mississippi

13 injured, no deaths reported

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 11, 2013 12:12 AM CST

(Newser) – A tornado wreaked havoc on Hattiesburg, Miss., yesterday, injuring at least 13 people as it pummeled buildings and hit a main street. Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency as Forrest County saw hundreds of homes damaged and the University of Southern Mississippi was hit hard, the AP reports. The extent of the damage remains unclear. "It was so strong that there's so much debris that there's a lot of areas (officials) haven't been able to get to yet," said a rep for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

The university's Alumni House lost part of its roof as windows shattered. "I just looked out the window and I heard the rumbling. It sounded like a train," said a neighbor. "We ran to the hall, and the kitchen windows and the windows in the bedroom exploded. It happened pretty fast." Another local found unexplained construction material on his lawn. "I don't even know where it came from," he noted.

A tornado moves through Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.
A tornado moves through Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.   (AP Photo/Jordan Holliman)
A women observes the damage to a closed and unoccupied dormitory on the University of Southern Mississippi campus in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.
A women observes the damage to a closed and unoccupied dormitory on the University of Southern Mississippi campus in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.   (AP Photo/The Student Printz, Jana Edwards)
Hardy Street in front of the University of Southern Mississippi campus is obstructed by debris in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.
Hardy Street in front of the University of Southern Mississippi campus is obstructed by debris in Hattiesburg, Miss., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.   (AP Photo/The Student Printz, Jana Edwards)
A business at 5133 Lincoln Road Extension in Hattiesburg, Miss., is damaged after an apparent tornado Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.
A business at 5133 Lincoln Road Extension in Hattiesburg, Miss., is damaged after an apparent tornado Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.   (AP Photo/Chuck Cook)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
HANKHILL
Feb 11, 2013 3:45 PM CST
this is nuz? that is what a tornado is supposed to do!!! just ma nature with pms!!!!!!!!
UnclePaul
Feb 11, 2013 10:13 AM CST
Just_Dave
Feb 11, 2013 8:32 AM CST
Good to see the support and love of the Newser crowd while we still wait to hear from our daughter in Hattiesburg. Guys show some humanity for a change.
 

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