Alabama flash flooding kills 4 and spurs rescues from homes and cars

 

Heavy rain sparked deadly flash flooding in parts of Alabama from Wednesday into Thursday, killing four people -- including a 4-year-old girl -- as crews rushed to rescue people from cars and homes, officials said.

Two deaths happened in northern Alabama's Marshall County, where the girl was found dead in the city of Arab, and an 18-year-old woman was found dead in nearby Union Grove, the county coroner's office said Thursday without elaborating.

And in central Alabama, a 23-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman died after floodwater swept their vehicle over a guardrail Wednesday night in the city of Hoover, just south of Birmingham, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said.

Floodwater rushed onto roads, parking lots and yards as inches of rain dropped quickly onto parts of the state Wednesday evening.

Some areas received 6-13 inches over the past several days -- and parts of the Birmingham area received 4-7 inches in just a few hours Wednesday alone, the National Weather Service said. Radar indicates even more may have fallen in some areas.