Alabama Power works to restore outages after storms

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Officials at Alabama Power said about 8,600 people were without power after storms pounded the Mobile area on Thursday.

Officials said they expect to restore 90 percent of those outages by midnight between Thursday and Friday, Dec. 20-21, and that the rest of the outages should be fixed by Friday morning.

A spokesperson for the utility said many of the outages were in the Midtown, Downtown and Prichard areas where crews will work through the night and into the day Friday to restore electricity for those effected by the storms.

The National Weather Service said on Thursday that its preliminary survey indicated that an EF-1 tornado touched down in the area . The storm caused damage to businesses, homes, trees and power lines throughout Mobile.

Photos: Severe weather pounds Mobile

Residents are warned to stay away from power lines and not to remove debris from downed lines, should they see them.