BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — At least nine people have died today in a wave of thunderstorms that's blowing down trees and damaging homes and businesses across the South.

The deaths have occurred from Arkansas to Alabama. A flare-up from the same system earlier this week had already killed 10 people in Arkansas and one in Mississippi.

At least four people have died in Mississippi today.

In Yazoo County, Coroner Ricky Shivers said a member of a county road crew, 48-year-old Charles H. “Harold' Coker of Yazoo City, was killed today when he was struck and killed by a tree the crew was removing from old Highway 49. Shivers said Coker was pronounced dead at the scene.