Storms hit the South, causing death and damage

Two people were killed in the park and 31 were hospitalized, St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin told local reporters. The National Weather Service warned the storm system could threaten much of the East Coast as it moves northeast Wednesday.

He said weather surveyors are examining the storm on suspected wind speeds and to confirm the tornado activity in Florida and Mississippi. "People were glad they took action and it probably helped save lives by staying home and off the roads".

A wind advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. in seven counties in the southeastern part of the state.

In a Wednesday morning briefing, forecaster Jaret Rogers said large hail and a few tornadoes are expected to develop over the region later Wednesday and Wednesday night.

Among the hardest hit was the Mississippi River hamlet of Convent, Louisiana, where state officials said two people died and dozens were injured at one trailer park.

One person died in Lamar County, Miss., during the severe weather.

Tornadoes are also still a major threat for Wednesday, stretching from the Miami and Tampa areas up along the coast and through Virginia, according to The Weather Channel's Domenica Davis.

National Weather Service staff spent a second hectic day trying to determine the size and location of the slew of tornadoes that hit south Louisiana on Tuesday. WINK Weather Meteorologist Scott Zedeker says we can expect to see some strong to severe storms.

A day after deadly storms lashed the South, more severe weather is forecast for the East Coast Wednesday while portions of the central USA deal with blizzard conditions.

In one neighborhood, the hum of chainsaws and generators could be heard as people cut downed trees, fixed damaged roofs and patched shattered windows. Three people were killed and dozens were injured.

In Louisiana's Assumption Parish, a tornado knocked down a water tower and damaged homes, said Deputy Robert Martin of the sheriff's office.

The storms began as a line of fierce thunderstorms moved across Texas, raising the risk of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds around several states, forecasters said.

Schools and government offices closed early in MI and in, where the wintry blast was expected to dump a foot of snow or more on Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. They are expected to continue through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and eastern Virginia on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said that a tornado had hit a New Orleans airport and another was reported in Pensacola, Fla., accompanied by high winds and property damage.

Timothy Williams said a friend had just come by to take his new auto for a drive when the storm hit.

Apartment resident Milan Smith told the Pensacola News Journal that he heard the storm approaching and ran to the bathroom.