On Friday, March 24, devastating storms spawned high, straight-line winds and tornadoes across western Mississippi and Alabama, killing at least 25 people and damaging hundreds of buildings. On Sunday, President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for the state of Mississippi, providing federal assistance to some of the hardest-hit counties. Gathered here are images from the small town of Rolling Fork, which was struck by a huge EF4 tornado, where residents are working to recover what they can.
Photos: Damage From the Tornado Outbreak in Mississippi
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![A couple stands close together, surveying extensive damage from a tornado, including a tractor unit of a semitruck atop a pile of debris.]()
Read moreHarvey Cockrell and his wife, Mary Cockrell, look over the house of their neighbors, Lonnie and Melissa Pierce, who were killed when a semitruck landed on their house during a tornado that hit three days earlier, photographed on March 27, 2023, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. The Cockrells' home was also damaged during the storm. #
Julio Cortez / AP -
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![An aerial view of damaged buildings and a water tower, after a series of powerful storms]()
Read moreAn aerial view of damage from a series of powerful storms and at least one tornado in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 25, 2023 #
Will Newton / Getty -
![A person walks among an extensive pile of broken trees and storm debris.]()
Read moreA view of the destruction in Rolling Fork on March 26, 2023 #
Fatih Aktas / Anadolu Agency / Getty -
![A pickup truck rests at a sharp angle on top of what remains of a café that was torn apart by a tornado.]()
Read moreA pickup truck rests on top of a restaurant cooler at Chuck's Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 25, 2023. #
Rogelio V. Solis / AP -
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![An aerial view of a destroyed warehouse]()
Read moreAn aerial view of a destroyed property in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, after thunderstorms spawning high, straight-line winds and tornadoes ripped across the state, on March 25, 2023 #
Cheney Orr / Reuters -
![Semitrucks piled atop one another, among other storm debris]()
Read moreSemitrucks piled atop one another in Rolling Fork on March 26, 2023 #
Cheney Orr / Reuters -
![Dozens of people visit and work at a volunteer station, distributing water bottles and other items.]()
Read moreCommunity members work to distribute water after the storms in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on March 25, 2023. #
Will Newton / Getty -
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![People carry packs of water bottles in a pickup truck.]()
Read moreCommunity members work to distribute water in Rolling Fork on March 25, 2023. #
Will Newton / Getty -
![Sheets of aluminum remain wrapped around battered tree limbs]()
Read moreSheets of aluminum remain wrapped around battered tree limbs in Rolling Fork after deadly tornadoes and severe storms tore through the area on March 26, 2023. #
Fatih Aktas / Anadolu Agency / Getty -
![A car with a large chunk of wood driven through its hood]()
Read moreA car in Rolling Fork with a large chunk of wood driven through its hood by the storm, photographed on March 25, 2023 #
Will Newton / Getty -
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![An aerial view of the wreckage of a storm-damaged house]()
Read moreAn aerial view of the wreckage of a house in a destroyed neighborhood in Rolling Fork on March 25, 2023 #
Chandan Khanna / AFP / Getty -
![A person passes a laptop out of a window of a badly damaged house.]()
Read moreJeremiah Stapleton passes a laptop to a family member from the window of his grandfather's home, which was crushed by a large tree, in Rolling Fork on March 26, 2023. #
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![A man covers his face, emotional, while standing in front of storm-damaged buildings.]()
Read moreEzell Williams cries while talking about the damage caused to his properties and those of his neighbors, on March 26, 2023, in Rolling Fork. #
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![Damaged cars and trucks sit in and on a pile of storm debris.]()
Read moreDestroyed cars and trucks remain scattered around Rolling Fork, as seen on March 26, 2023. #
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![An elevated view of several homes torn apart by a tornado]()
Read moreDebris is strewn about tornado-damaged homes in Rolling Fork, seen on March 26, 2023. #
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![A person works to salvage items in a destroyed house.]()
Read moreA person works to salvage items in a destroyed house on March 26, 2023. #
Fatih Aktas / Anadolu Agency / Getty -
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![A firefighter walks in front of a house that has smoke coming out of it.]()
Read moreA firefighter walks in front of a damaged house as it catches fire on March 26, 2023. #
Chandan Khanna / AFP / Getty -
![Two people carry items outside a heavily damaged house.]()
Read moreResidents continue to recover possessions and secure homes that were damaged by Friday's tornado in Rolling Fork. #
Scott Olson / Getty -
![Three people wearing plastic sheets for protection from rain gather belongings from a storm-damaged area.]()
Read moreThe McKnight family gathers belongings from the wreckage of their home as Mississippi braced for another round of potentially severe weather in Rolling Fork on March 26, 2023. #
Cheney Orr / Reuters -
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![A downed tree lies in front of a damaged courthouse.]()
Read moreA series of powerful storms and at least one tornado damaged the Sharkey County courthouse in Rolling Fork on March 25, 2023. #
Will Newton / Getty -
![A view of a storm-damaged area, with the sun low in the sky]()
Read moreA view of Rolling Fork after thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped across the state, on March 25, 2023. #
Cheney Orr / Reuters
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