3 dead amid violent storms, tornado in Southeast U.S.

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Several violent storms tore through the Southeast on Monday, killing at least three people and causing substantial property damage.

Town Creek, Ala., police chief Jerry Garrett said a husband and wife were killed during a tornado Monday night and at least four people were critically injured, including a 7-year-old child.

In Louisiana, the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office said Betty Patin, 59, died when her mobile home was destroyed by an earlier storm.

The Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office said several churches and numerous homes and buildings sustained "significant" structural damage from the tornado. Power lines and trees in the parish had also been uprooted and crews were working to remove debris and restore power.

"We've got damage at lots of places," Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Calvin Turner said. "We've got a church where the fellowship hall is torn all to pieces. Some homes are hit. Right now, we're having trouble just getting to places because of the trees that are down."

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and said a severe weather threat would be in place for central Alabama until Tuesday morning.