NWS: Confirmed rare, violent EF-4 tornado hit the Hattiesburg area
The major damage reported across two Mississippi counties has been confirmed from a single long-tracked and powerful tornado.
While damage surveys continue, the National Weather Service (NWS) said Monday afternoon that they have given the tornado that caused widespread damage across Lamar and Forrest counties, a preliminary rating of EF-4 with 170 mph winds.
According to the NWS, the extensive damage found in the Oak Grove area of Lamar County, warranted the EF-4 rating with homes completely destroyed in the area.
Gov. Bryant said the information he received indicated that the tornado was on the ground for at least 75 miles through South Mississippi. An estimated 200 homes and mobile homes, and another 100 apartments were damaged or destroyed.
As the tornado blew through, 13,339 people lost power. That number was down to around 7,000 early Monday.
No fatalities have been reported by this tornado but as many as 82 people have been injured, according to NWS. Sixty-three people were reported injured in Forrest County and 19 in Lamar County.
NWS said there are likely many more minor injuries that have not been accounted for at this time.
Several counties including Forrest and Lamar are under a state of emergency due to the extensive tornado damage.
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