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Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said at 11 tonight that emergency personnel are still in “search and rescue mode” following tonight’s tornado, which struck western and northern Limestone County about 5:15 p.m.

Two people are confirmed dead but personnel are still searching, he told The News Courier’s Lora Scripps at a press conference tonight.

If you would like to help with the cleanup or assist victims, stay out of the areas struck by the storms and call the Limestone County Emergency Management Agency instead.

Power poles and lines are down and there are trees and debris obstructing various roadways into these areas, the sheriff said. U.S. 72 is closed to all but emergency vehicles from Blackburn Road west to the Limestone/Lauderdale line.

Sightseers are only hampering search, rescue and cleanup efforts, several authorities have said.

To assist, Blakely said please call the EMA, located at 1011W. Market St. in Athens at (256) 232-2631.