Winds of up to 120 miles per hour wreaked destruction across the county as a huge weather system battered swathes of the U.S.

Millions of Americans across the country are on alert for a severe weather outbreak as violent, long-track tornadoes with damaging winds of up to 80 mph and large hail are expected across the Midwest and South with the cross-country storm moving east.

A reported 99 tornadoes across 11 states have left people in a large swath of the south and midwest starting over. NBC News’ Kathy Park reports from Mississippi where a state of emergency is in effect.