WASHINGTON, DC, November 12, 2002 (ENS) - At least 36 people lost their lives as wave after wave of tornados crashed across the southeastern states from late Saturday night through early Monday morning. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says the death toll is expected to rise as hundreds are still reported missing throughout five states.

The National Weather Service says an estimated 88 tornadoes ripped through Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, leaving crushed buildings and desolation in their wake.

Most of the deaths occurred in Tennessee where at least 16 people were killed. Mossy Grove, Tennessee was among the hardest hit areas as 12 people were killed and the rural town was destroyed by a mile wide tornado bearing winds of 175 miles per hour.

Tornado near Continental, Ohio (Photo courtesy National Weather Service)

Official National Weather Service storm survey teams have finished surveys of the November 10 tornado tracks. An expert in aerial damage surveys conducted a flyover of eastern Indiana and northwest Ohio today.

Even as property damage assessments were just getting underway, it was clear the loss of life could have been much greater.

Van Wert, Ohio was hit Saturday by severe tornado packing winds between 207 and 260 miles per hour, but a weather wise theater manager cleared moviegoers out just before the storm struck, thereby saving lives, officials said.

Severe damage caused a fatality and one critical injury in Van Wert at the intersection of Dull-Robinson and Zook roads. A couple was upstairs in their home as the tornado approached. The husband attempted to cover his wheelchair-bound wife when their home was hit, and a flying object struck and killed him. His wife is in critical condition in the hospital.

Tornado damage to Carbon Hill Elementary School in Walker County, Alabama (Photo courtesy National Weather Service)

“We monitored the radar images and got the warnings out early. The media did a terrific job of relaying the information to the public. The emergency management people were providing critical information and, most important, the citizens heeded the warnings and took appropriate actions,” Graham said.

“It just all came together the way it’s supposed to,” Graham added. “Despite the 11 fatalities in Alabama, a lot of lives were saved by the watch and warning process.