Violent tornadoes raged through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Ala. Wednesday, leveling homes and business and killing at least 149 people, according to reports.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Robert Bentley told CNN Thursday that the twisters killed people in 16 Alabama counties. Tuscaloosa, in the west-central part of the state, was hit especially hard, with the death toll at 36 as of Thursday morning, CNN reports.
Gov. Bentley declared a state of emergency, and President Barack Obama approved emergency federal assistance for Alabama on Wednesday night, according to UPI.
"While we may not know the extent of the damage for days, we will continue to monitor these severe storms across the country and stand ready to continue to help the people of Alabama and all citizens affected by these storms," Obama said in a statement.
Mayor Walter Maddox told CNN that the tornado that churned through Tuscaloosa "literally obliterated blocks and blocks of the city."
"I don't know how anyone survived," Maddox continued. "We're used to tornadoes here in Tuscaloosa. It's part of growing up. But when you look at the path of destruction that's likely 5 to 7 miles long in an area half a mile to a mile wide ... it's an amazing scene. There's parts of the city I don't recognize, and that's someone that's lived here his entire life."
In Birmingham, a tornado from the same system that appeared to be a mile wide caused 100 mph winds and cut power to more than 170,000 customers, the Birmingham News reported.
"It is tornado season, but an intensive event like this only will occur maybe once or twice a year," said CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris. "It's very rare to have all these ingredients come together."
