At least 14 dead in Alabama after tornadoes ravage the Southeast

Rescuers were set to deploy infrared drones and helicopters to search for signs of life amid a wide swath of debris, which made initial rescue efforts difficult, Jones said.Most victims were concentrated in a one-square mile area.“The damage is incredible,” Jones said.Sunday’s tornadoes were the deadliest in the United States since May 20, 2013, when a category EF-5 tornado struck Moore, Okla., killing 24 people and leaving more than 200 injured, according to data from the Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. Just over an hour later, the National Weather Service reported that a “large & EXTREMELY DANGEROUS” tornado was on the ground near Dupree, Ala., moving east.According to the Weather Service, the first tornado to hit Lee County was at least an EF-3, meaning wind speeds were anywhere between 136 to 165 mph and damage is considered to be “severe.” The tornado was estimated to be at least a half-mile wide, the Weather Service said.We had someone on the ground in Lee Co briefly before the sun went down. All but one home.It was hard to imagine what had become of all the people who lived there, he said.Large tornado Sunday afternoon in Lee County, Alabama. Gainor told The Post that more than two-dozen homes in the town of approximately 10,000 had been damaged.On Twitter, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) said she extended a state of emergency declaration to the entire state.“Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today,” Ivey tweeted.