Dozens Of Tornadoes Leave 50 Dead

At least 54 people are dead after dozens of tornadoes pulled houses from foundations, pummeled mobile homes and collapsed warehouses. It is the nation's deadliest barrage of twisters in at least a decade.

The victims included 26 people in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama, emergency officials said.

Hundreds of houses were damaged or destroyed. Rescue crews have moved door-to-door to find victims of last night's twisters. They were unleashed by a storm that swept through Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama. Teams from FEMA have been sent to the region and activated an emergency center in Georgia.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen surveyed the damage from a helicopter and said, "It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground."

In Castalian Springs, a baby was discovered unscathed in a field across from a demolished post office. Emergency officials say the baby was covered in debris but was otherwise OK.

Crews went door to door Wednesday searching debris for more victims of the deadly tornadoes.

A company spokesman said no one was killed in a huge explosion at a natural gas pumping plant in Tennessee.

The Nisource Gas Transmission spokesman said no one was working at the plant Tuesday night when it erupted in flames. He said a tornado likely hit the plant, causing the fire.

About 200 yards from the edge of the gas plant, Bonnie and Frank Brawner picked through the rubble of their home for photographs and other personal items. The storm sheared off the second story of the home and the remaining ceiling over the first floor was partially caved in.

"We had a beautiful neighborhood, now it's hell," said Bonnie Brawner, 80.

The nearby Castalian Springs, Tenn., Post Office was destroyed, and there was one confirmed death, WSMV-TV in Nashville reported.

Bush Vows Help For Storm Victims

President George W. Bush said Wednesday that the government will help those affected by the storms.

"Our administration is reaching out to state officials," Bush said, adding that he spoke with the governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. "I wanted them to know that this government will help them; but more importantly, I wanted them to be able to tell the people in their states that the American people hold them up and -- hold those who suffer up in prayer. This was a bad storm that affected a lot of people in a variety of states."

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen also pledged the full resources of the state to help people rebuild and get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

He has asked state and local agencies for damage assessments to support a planned request for federal disaster relief.

More than 160 National Guard members turned out to support recovery missions in three states. Guard members performed search and rescue missions, provided security at traffic control points, and supported civilian authorities in other ways in Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Tennessee Hit Hard

Among the dead in Tennessee was a 70-year-old man whose mobile home was leveled in Macon County.

Tennessee officials said the storms injured as many as 75 people, demolished buildings, flipped vehicles and brought down a large wall at a shopping mall.

Macon County emergency director Keith Scruggs confirmed at least eight deaths from storm damage alone, WSMV reported.

"Its cut Macon County in two," Scruggs said of what is believed to be a tornado. "I've been working 34 years and I've never seen anything like this."

"Roads are blocked. It's massive. We can't tell the extent of the damage yet. They have search teams going out now to check subdivision developments, housing and more rural areas."

Residents across the county began sifting through debris and searching for neighbors and family, despite having no power Tuesday night. As the sun rose Wednesday morning, destroyed roads strewn with debris, downed trees and power lines and destroyed homes could be seen clearly.

Severe storms damaged buildings at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday night, injuring 16 people, reported WSMV.

A school spokesman said eight students were reported trapped in a damaged dormitory at the university but weren't seriously injured. The television station confirmed early Wednesday that all the students were able to get out of the dorm safely and suffered only minor injuries.

Union University president David Dockery said one-third of the campus was either damaged or destroyed. Dockery said the school would be closed until Feb. 13.

7 Die In Kentucky

Three people were also killed in Muhlenberg County, Ky.

Angela Alexander, spokeswoman for Sumner Regional Medical Center, said early Wednesday morning that four people died and several others were injured after severe storms moved through the county northwest of Nashville.