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19 deaths confirmed across the Mid-South after damaging storms

Multiple tornado warnings were issued for parts of Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi and lives were lost across these three different states.

A string of deadly tornadoes moved through the Mid-South on Friday, March 31st, damaging homes and businesses and changing lives forever.

Multiple Tornado Warnings were issued for parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi and several tornadoes were visually confirmed by trained spotters.

The region was under a rare level 5 out of 5 risk for severe weather. The area had not been under a severe weather risk this high since 2011. Strong storms continued to move throughout the Mid-South into the early morning hours of April 1. 

Six people died in the state of Arkansas after Little Rock, Wynne, and other towns were hit by the storms, which involved at least two confirmed tornadoes. Four of those deaths were confirmed in Wynne, according to Cross County Coroner, Eli Long. 

28 people were injured in the storms and taken to CrossRidge Hospital in Wynne, ABC News confirmed with the hospital's associate administrator Brian Mattes. 

One person died in Covington, Tennessee, according to the Tipton County Sheriff's Office. Meanwhile, Memphis police said two children and an adult died in the Brookhaven area, where trees fell onto houses.

Tipton County Schools has also confirmed significant damage to Crestview Elementary and Middle Schools as well as the Tipton County Hospital. 28 people were injured and sent to local hospitals, according to the Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley. 

Nine people were killed after storms damaged McNairy County, Tennessee, according to the McNairy County Sheriff's Office.

First Baptist Church in Bethel Springs will be serving meals to those who are in need and to first responders in McNairy County, according to officials.

McNairy County Mayor Larry Smith declared a state of emergency on Saturday. 

"Please keep all responders in your prayers as response continues and we move into recovery from this disaster," a statement from the McNairy County EMA read.

The county EMA also urged the public to be safe when traveling in the county as trees are still down in some areas. 

The Adamsville Police Department in McNairy County urged community members to reach out to them "to help our neighbors in this time of need." They also encouraged specific streets and neighborhoods in needs to post in the comments section of their Facebook post.

The damage and loss that our community suffered last night was catastrophic. We send our condolences to all of those who...

Posted by Adamsville Police Department, TN on Saturday, April 1, 2023

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