“Dear Jesus, please help them,” said WTVA chief meteorologist Matt Laubhan Friday night, as he warned residents of Amory, Mississippi to immediately take shelter.
The Emmy winning weather professional briefly bowed his head as he offered the prayer.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed 23 dead, dozens injured, 4 missing due to the late-night tornadoes. There were numerous local and state search and rescue teams that continued to work over the weekend. A number of assets were on the ground to assist those impacted by the storm.
WTVA shared photos of twisted metal, damage to the National Guard Armory in Amory, and damage to many other homes, businesses, and structures.
Mississippi’s Gov. Tate Reeves, requested prayers Friday, as well, as the storms wracked the Magnolia State.
He tweeted, “Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight.”
The tornado that dropped around 8 p.m. near Sharkey County’s town of Rolling Fork was at least a mile wide and traveled for more than 90 miles.
At least 13 people lost their lives in Sharkey County as a result of the storm.
Rolling Fork, Sharkey County’s County seat, is in western Mississippi. It is home to about 1,883.
Other Mississippi towns reporting significant damage include Anguilla and Silver Creek.