Storms kill 17 in the southern states

By Mike Munzenrider

Storms killed 17 people in Alabama, Arkansas and Oklahoma state officials said.

In Alabama, a total of seven people were killed, all of whom were in their homes at the time reports The New York Times. A mother and her children were killed when their double-wide mobile home was thrown 100 yards.

Straight line winds, not tornadoes, were responsible for much of the damage reports the BBC.

The storm moved into South Carolina, North Carolina and West Virginia on Saturday reports The New York Times.