Photos of Mississippi communities reeling after tornadoes

Powerful storms that spawned at least three tornadoes tore through several Mississippi counties. Authorities say the storms damaged nearly 500 homes, knocked down trees and power lines, and injured at least 17 people. There were no immediate reports of deaths. The storms struck late Wednesday. A mobile home park in Bogue Chitto was severely damaged. Krystal Miller and six others, including several young kids, survived the apparent tornado picking up their home and sending it cartwheeling through the air. She says she's just grateful they made it out alive. Other survivors told of crawling under furniture and of hiding in a closet.

As storm chaser Ashton Lemley picked his way through a tornado-ravaged Mississippi trailer p…