Severe weather leaves damage in north Miss.

Published 6:29 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Severe weather damaged dozens of homes, toppled trees and blocked roads early Wednesday as powerful thunderstorms swept across north Mississippi.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said 30 to 40 homes in Panola County were damaged by the storm, but the extent has not yet been determined.

No injuries or deaths were reported.

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Tam Hawkins of the Panola County EMA said the damage was mostly in the city of Batesville.

“We have not gotten totally into the county yet to see how many are in the county,” Hawkins said.

Approximately 40 percent of Batesville is without power and 30 percent of the residents in the county have no electricity, Panola County EMA director Daniel Cole said in a MEMA news release.

Cole told MEMA that 40 roads in Batesville are inaccessible because of storm debris.

Tornado warnings were issued for Winston and Lowndes counties. Portions of Attala, Choctaw, Oktibbeha, and Noxubee counties were also under tornado warnings around 8 a.m.

Emergency management officials reported at least five homes damaged in Coahoma County, two damaged in Noxubee County and at least two in Attala County.

Trees and power lines were down in Noxubee County and an 18-wheeler overturned in the northern part of the county near Brooksville.

Homes and businesses in 18 counties received damage from weekend severe weather that brought strong winds, heavy rains and flash flood warnings to much of the state.