At least nine people including a 5-year-old boy was killed after tornadoes ripped through parts of the southeast US.
According to officials, the death toll is expected to rise as emergency officials in Alabama and Georgia assess the damage on Friday.
Central Alabama was particularly badly hit, with seven deaths reported in Autauga County alone.
Similarly, in Spalding County of Georgia city, middle-school principals wielded chainsaws to clear driveways to help reunite students trapped on campus with their parents.
In nearby Butts County, the authorities said, a tree fell on a vehicle, killing a 5-year-old boy and critically injuring one of his parents.
The storms have hit many other places that have been recovering from a bitter winter in the US.
A massive operation is underway to restore electricity to thousands of homes. People may still be trapped in the wreckage.
More than 35 tornadoes were reported by the National Weather Service (NWS).
