JACKSON, Tenn., May 6 (UPI) -- The South braced for the threat of more violent spring storms Tuesday, days after swarms of tornadoes killed at least 39 people in Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee.
Heavy rain, large hail and strong winds hit Tennessee, northern Mississippi, northern Alabama, northern Georgia and the Carolinas overnight, prompting flood watches and warnings. Tornado watches were in effect Tuesday morning in portions of western Tennessee, northern Mississippi and northern Alabama.
In Tennessee, the death toll rose to 15. Kurt Pickering, spokesman for the state Emergency Management Agency, said there were 12 confirmed deaths in Madison County, where the hard-hit city of Jackson is located, and three further east in Cannon County.
One man was missing in Madison County and officials said he may be dead.
"Right now, we're sort of in a hybrid recovery-response mode because the weather continues to be a problem," Pickering said. "We've had two or three tornado warnings this morning, although I'm not aware of any touchdowns."
Electrical power remained out in Jackson and a boil order was in effect for drinking water.
Gov. Phil Bredensen toured Madison County where an F-4 tornado with winds over 200 mph killed 14 people and injured 117.
Rescue workers in Tennessee were looking for more victims, and possible survivors.
Residents were already trying to put their lives back together and deciding how to or whether to rebuild after the tornadoes struck Sunday night.
Federal, state and local officials were conducting damage assessments to confirm a state of emergency existed and whether a call for federal assistance was warranted. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was among those with several representatives in Tennessee.
Nearly 300 structures were damaged or destroyed including homes, mobile homes and public buildings such as businesses and churches, Pickering said.
FEMA Director Michael Brown and state officials toured the Kansas City area and Cherokee and Crawford counties in the southeast corner of Kansas under bright clear skies. The death toll in Kansas stood at seven with at least 50 injured. Nearly a third of the town of Franklin was wiped out.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius asked President George W. Bush to declare seven counties federal disaster areas, beginning the process for residents to seek federal disaster assistance. At least 600 homes and businesses were damaged in Wyandotte County and some 80 homes were damaged or destroyed in Crawford County. About 100 homes in Kansas City were destroyed and 45 damaged so badly they will be demolished.
The Kansas City Star said property losses in the Kansas City area alone would exceed $20 million.
"In this area, as well as in southeast Kansas, you really see the devastation up close and person," said Sebelius as she toured the devastation Monday afternoon. "You can tell where there were houses, where there were driveways, but nothing's left."
Missouri Gov. Bob Holden asked Bush to declare 39 of the state's 120 counties federal disaster areas. Twisters were blamed for 18 deaths in 17 southern Missouri counties. At least seven people were missing in Pierce City, where virtually every downtown building was destroyed except the post office and city hall, which sustained minor damage. State damage assessment teams surveyed the hard-hit towns of Carl Junction in Jasper County and Stockton in Cedar County.
"My folks are telling me it's the most widespread series of tornadoes in the history of the state," Holden said.
Storms cut across Arkansas but no caused no deaths.
