Severe weather: Tornado blamed for several deaths in Mississippi, Louisiana

Christmas Eve has begun under a state of emergency in parts of the South. A powerful storm system is bringing heavy rain and tornadoes to the region. The severe weather is blamed for at least four deaths and dozens of injuries. The hardest-hit areas are Columbia, Mississippi and Amite City, Louisiana, reports CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers.

Tuesdays' storm was strong enough to uproot trees and even shut down highways. There were reports of people trapped inside their homes and a hospital being forced to run on backup power. One local official said simply it was "chaos."

At least two people were killed in Columbia, dozens more were taken to the hospital and thousands were left without power.

"It's like a third world around here. Everybody's pretty much, every business on the bypass is gone or sustained some kind of damage," Kyle Sinclair said.

Mississippi Pastor Mike Dykes and his pregnant wife were trapped in his pickup truck when the tornado hit.

"I've been praying all my life. I'm 64 years old and I've prayed like I've never prayed," Dykes said. "We were trying to outrun this monster storm. Got as far as this station and come up under here and thought hopefully the thing would keep going, but it come right to us and it shook us like a rag doll."

In Marion County, Mississippi, winds of at least 90 mph rolled over an ambulance and tore apart a daycare center. None of the children inside were hurt.

Businesses were wrecked, roofs ripped apart and emergency crews are still assessing the damage.

"A lot of people say it sounds like a train. It's a huge roar and it doesn't let up," one resident said.

Homes in Louisiana were no match for a tornado either, reported to be 500 yards wide. Police and firefighters searched for anyone trapped under the debris.

"Some extensive damage. From where we are right here, we can see at least seven homes that are destroyed or has a lot of damage," Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess said.

More details will come regarding the extent of the damage when survey teams arrive on scene Wednesday morning.