Aftermath

Twisters Cripple Emergency Services

337 dead in worst tornadoes since 1925.

As Southerners dig out from the aftermath of the deadliest tornado outbreak since 1925, survivors are finding that many emergency services were destroyed in the storms. The worst-hit Alabama town of Tuscaloosa's emergency-services headquarters were destroyed, forcing officials to work out of a stadium, and the fire department of nearby Alberta City was left without a station or trucks. The search for bodies and survivors continues, but authorities are begging for such basics as flashlights, and are forced to store bodies in refrigerated trucks. The death toll climbed to 337 early Saturday morning, with thousands more likely injured. There have also been reports of looting and scavenging from the wreckage, and Tuscaloosa police imposed a curfew with help from National Guard troops in an attempt to stop it. President Obama promised aid when he visited Tuscaloosa Friday. “I've never seen devastation like this,” he said. “We're going to make sure you're not forgotten.”