(WTXL) — At least 17 people are dead after strong storms pounded the South on Sunday, damaging hundreds of homes and other buildings.
ABC News reports that 17 people, 11 in Mississippi and 6 Georgia, were killed when storms ripped through the area, damaging up to 300 homes and other buildings in northern Louisiana as well.
Among the people killed in Mississippi were Lawrence County sheriff's deputy Robert Ainsworth and his wife Paula, who served as a Walthall County Justice Court deputy clerk, according to a Facebook post from Lawrence County Sheriff's office.
"Robert left this world a hero, as he shielded Mrs. Paula during the tornado. He was a very valuable employee and will be greatly missed," the sheriff's office wrote in the post.
Around 885,000 people across nine southern states were without power as of Monday morning.
