How to Help Tornado Victims

For a variety of tips on drop-off points to aid victims of Monday’s EF3 tornado, visit the Facebook page: “January 23rd 2012 Alabama Tornado Victims Hub.”

Some specific ways to help:

• Donations can be dropped at Kmart in Trussville and the Clay Community Center. Volunteers are taking them from there to Clearview Church in Chalkville. Contact: Michelle Becker, 205-739-3467.

• United Way of Central Alabama has shelters open at:

•First Baptist Church of Center Point,  1945 Center Point Parkway, Center Point, AL

•Clay Community Center, 6423 Clay-Palmerdale Road, Clay, AL

• Springville First Methodist Church, 6471 U.S. Highway 11, Springville, AL

Limestone County was spared damage from severe weather early Monday though at least two deaths were reported in other parts of the state.

Officials in Jefferson County said two people were killed and at least 100 people were injured as the storm system moved through central Alabama. The coroner’s office identified the fatalities as 83-year-old Bobby Frank Sims of the Oak Grove community and 16-year-old Christina Nicole Heichelbech of Clay.

Officials determined Monday the damage was caused by an EF3 tornado. An EF2 twister struck Tuscaloosa County.

Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency Monday for all 67 counties, allowing the state EMA to help other agencies and make damage assessments. He said he plans to tour two storm-damaged areas today. Bentley says he will be in northern Jefferson County on Tuesday morning and then go to the Chilton County town of Maplesville on Tuesday afternoon. Bentley said he didn’t go to the areas Monday because he didn’t want to be in the way of rescue teams and utility repair crews.

“Our Emergency Management Agency will continue to monitor this severe weather and will be prepared for any potential impact on our communities. State agencies are on call and ready to assist communities,” Bentley said in a press release. “I urge Alabamians to heed weather warnings to protect their families, homes and businesses. The severe weather outbreak of last year is still fresh on our minds and is a reminder that we must take the threat of severe weather seriously.”

Heavy rains caused additional flooding across North Alabama, though officials with the Limestone County EMA said no significant problems had been reported aside from ponding on roads. Officials with the city of Athens also reported no significant issues or power outages, despite high wind gusts and torrential rains.

Athens Police Capt. Floyd Johnson said dispatchers had received calls about standing water at several spots on U.S. 31, including near the intersection of Nuclear Plant Road, but no other major road issues.

School systems in Madison and Jackson counties delayed school openings, but officials with the Athens and Limestone County school systems said there were no delays locally.

Most road issues in Madison County were reported on the eastern side, but WAFF-48 reported as much as 9 inches of standing water on U.S. 72 east between Madison Hospital and the new Target shopping center. The station also reported as much as 5 inches of water on U.S. 72 between Uptown and Hughes Roads. Nance and Capshaw roads were briefly considered impassable because of flooding.

In Clanton, about 50 miles south of Birmingham, rescuers responded to reports of a trailer turned over with people trapped.

Also south of Birmingham, Maplesville town clerk Sheila Haigler said high winds damaged many buildings and knocked down several trees. One tree fell on a storm shelter, but no one was injured, Haigler said. Police had not been able to search some areas because trees and power lines were blocking roads.

Alabama Power reported that 56,300 homes and businesses in central Alabama were without power, though primarily in Jefferson County. By midday, Alabama Power had the outages down to about 15,000.

In Arkansas, there were possible tornadoes in several areas Sunday night. The storms also brought hail and strong winds as they moved through parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois and Mississippi.

The storm system’s exit brought a return of sunshine, but rain and storms remain in the forecast for the remainder of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville. A 20 percent chance of showers is predicted for tonight, while rain chances increase Wednesday and Thursday to 50 and 60 percent respectively.

Another round of strong storms could be possible on Thursday as highs are expected to reach the low-to-mid-60s. The NWS is predicting a 20 percent chance of showers on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday are expected to be more seasonal with highs in the mid-50s and lows in the lower 30s.