A pair of deadly tornadoes ripped through the Darbun community and the northern part of the county Saturday afternoon, rendering more than 10 Marion County homes a complete loss and damaging 49 residences, four farms and two businesses. While no lives were lost in Marion County, four people were killed in neighboring Walthall County.
There were more than 4,000 reported power outages in the area following a pair of tornadoes Saturday afternoon as countless power poles and lines were damaged.
The first tornado was classified as an EF-4 with wind speeds up to 170 miles per hour and was on the ground from 12:19 p.m. until 1:02, while the second tornado that touched down just 24 minutes later has been classified as an EF-3 with gusts up to 140 miles per hour. The second tornado was on the ground for 18 minutes.
Jace Anthony and Mirissa King, who live on Pine Grove Road in Darbun, had their home torn to shreds by the tornadoes, as did several of their family members who live on the same street.
A property on Watts Dunaway Road sustained substantial damage, with several outside structures a total loss.
King said the first tornado busted out the windows on the second floor of their home, and she, Anthony and their children decided to make a run for it before the second tornado reached their home. With the roads blocked from downed trees, Anthony had to drive through fields of neighboring properties, driving straight through fences, in order to escape.
Several homes on Pine Grove Road are a total loss as a pair of tornadoes traveled on the road Saturday afternoon.
They made the right decision as their home was completely destroyed by the second tornado. The only area of the house that did not sustain damage was a closet containing the belongings of their son, who tragically passed away in October 2024.
King said that while they are no strangers to damaging storms, there aren’t words to describe how terrifying the two tornadoes were. She said it is a blessing that they were able to make it to safety and thanked God for sparing her son’s belongings.
The storm damage from the twin tornadoes is widespread throughout the northern part of Marion County, as well as neighboring Walthall County.
Another home owned by the family next door was completely leveled, and King said a family member who saw the tornado hit it described the home essentially exploding.
It will take months, if not years, for many Marion County families to recover and rebuild from the twisters.
There were at least 4,000 Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association members without power following the storm, but there were only 25 reported outages in Marion County as of Tuesday morning.
