| May 12, 2008 -- At least 20 people were killed as tornadoes and severe weather swept the Midwest before rumbling into the Southeast, according to emergency management agencies. At least 80,000 Georgia residents were without electricity Sunday, mostly concentrated in the metro Atlanta and Macon areas, Georgia Power officials told The Associated Press. The storm system moved into the Southeast after leaving 20 people dead -- and homes and businesses in shambles -- across Missouri and Oklahoma. "Mother's Day is a sad day for those who lost their lives in Oklahoma, Missouri and Georgia because of the tornadoes," President Bush told reporters outside his ranch in Texas."We send our prayers for those who lost their lives. The federal government will be moving hard to help." Television footage showed destroyed outbuildings and damaged homes west of McAlester and near Haywood. At a glass plant southwest of McAlester, the storm apparently picked up a trailer and slammed it down on garbage bins. Weather officials said a tornado touched down about 6 p.m. between Seneca and Neosho near the Missouri-Kansas border. Numerous injuries were reported, and U.S. 60, which runs into Interstate 44, was closed because of debris covering the road. In storm-weary Arkansas, a tornado collapsed a home and a business, and there were reports of a few people trapped in buildings. The AP reported Central Park Elementary School in the northwest Arkansas city of Bentonville had roof and window damage, and damage was also reported at Pine Creek Center School. Article and Picture courtesy of CNN and the Associated Press
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