DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (AP) - As torrential rain and heavy winds continued to batter Alabama's coast Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for four people missing after a deadly weekend storm killed two people and played havoc with a yearly sailboat race in Mobile Bay.
The agency said the search would resume as soon as the weather allows.
Crews have been searching for four boaters still missing after the powerful storm capsized several sailboats, killing at least two mariners, in a Saturday regatta.
The weather was worse Monday than during Sunday's search efforts, and the Coast Guard asked volunteers to stay on the shore and look for possible survivors there.
Earlier, crews used boats to search white-capped waters and asked volunteers to walk the shore in case anything washed up.
The Coast Guard said one person initially believed missing had been found safe at home following a check of people who had registered for the race.
One skipper said her crew had 15 minutes warning of the storm Saturday afternoon, but the wind nevertheless hit so suddenly and with such force that her 34-foot racing cruiser nearly capsized.
Within seconds, said Susan Kangal, 52, "it went from probably 15 to 20 miles per hour to 73 miles per hour. It just shot off the charts. And that's when you couldn't see anything. Everything went white, (the) boat slammed to its side."
The Coast Guard said it would not release the names of the dead or missing until all the families are notified. The agency released a statement on behalf of the families thanking emergency response agencies and asking prayer for their loved ones.
The National Weather Service said heavy rains were possible through Monday night, and authorities asked volunteer searchers to remain on land to avoid any more casualties.
More than 100 sailboats and as many as 200 people were participating in the 57th running of the race when the storm hit Saturday afternoon.
Rail cars blow off bridge
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - High winds blew rail cars off the Huey P. Long Bridge and nearly 250,000 homes and businesses lost power Monday morning as a line of severe thunderstorms moved across southeast Louisiana.
Five rail cars carrying six to eight freight containers fell from the bridge outside New Orleans. The National Weather Service reported a 70 mph wind gust at the New Orleans airport.
None of the containers held hazardous cargo, nobody was injured and the cars did not land on any vehicles or businesses, he said.
Band of tornadoes in Texas
DALLAS (AP) - A band of tornadoes that swept across parts of rural Texas over the weekend flattened buildings, tore the roofs off other structures and forced people to rush for shelter.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Gudmestad confirmed Monday that at least four tornadoes struck an area southwest of Fort Worth. She says as many as 14 may have touched down Sunday in an area stretching eastward just south of Stephenville and Granbury.
No injuries have been reported.
The storm system also brought large hail and several inches of rain that caused flash flooding and inundated roadways.