Selma has received “significant damage” from a tornado that touched Thursday, according to Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr.
No deaths have been reported, but the tornado caused some injuries, some of which Perkins described as "significant."
The Selma City Council met Thursday evening to officially declare Selma a disaster area, which is the first step for getting state and federal aid to the area.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was enforced Thursday night, and the curfew will remain in effect Friday. Officials at a Friday morning news conference stressed the importance of staying home unless you have a reason to be out.
“Many roads in the area are closed; you can’t get through,” Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn said. “We ask that all citizens not in need to be out, stay at home and let emergency crews do what they need to do. There are trees and power lines down. It’s really dangerous.”
Selma High School served as a temporary shelter, according to the Dallas County Emergency Management Agency.
The National Weather Service has confirmed that at least one tornado touched down in Selma Thursday at about 12:15 p.m.
Damage is reported on Highway 22, including major damage to the Selma Country Club. Nearby Morgan Academy received some damage, but no students or staff have been reported injured. Crosspoint PreSchool received some damage and closed, forcing parents walking to pick up their children, according to posts on Facebook.
A member of the Selma Sun staff observed extensive damage to homes behind the Winn Dixie on Dallas Avenue. The Old Town neighborhood has major damage, according to Clay Carmichael, who lives in the downtown neighborhood. "It looks like (the tornado) went right up J L Chestnut," Carmichael said.
The Selma City School’s School of Discovery received minor damage, but there were no injuries of students, teacher or staff at Selma City Schools, Communication Director Cynthia Millege said.
The county jail was damaged by the tornado, and inmates, including juveniles, are being transported to other jails throughout Alabama, Nunn said.
In the midst of the storm, the Selma Fire Department fought a fire at a warehouse near the old landfill on Jeff Davis Avenue.
Perkins said at the news conference that the state EMA will take video from a drone to help officials complete a damage assessment from the tornado. Perkins invited citizens to post pictures of any damage sustained throughout the city at #shareyourphotos.
Watch for details as they become available.
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