4 children critical after tornado flattens 24-hour daycare in Alabama

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — Severe weather, including tornadoes, roared through northern Alabama overnight, killing three and destroying numerous buildings, including a 24-hour daycare, officials said.

Four children at the daycare in DeKalb County were reported to be in critical condition after a tornado tore through the facility.

Jackson County Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said three people in a mobile home were killed when another tornado hit Rosalie in northeast Alabama.

Another person in the home was critically injured.

Harnen also said there have been a number of other injuries and he estimates that 16 to 20 structures in Jackson County have been destroyed.

Numerous reports of possible tornadoes have been made in several counties across northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, the National Weather Service said.

Damage caused by the storm system was not confined to Alabama and Tennessee.

Officials report trees and power lines were down across much of north and central Mississippi, causing numerous power outages.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Cox Media Group