HOUSTON – Thursday dawned bright and clear and Chickasaw County began to crawl out of the debris of three confirmed tornadoes that touched down Wednesday afternoon.

The official death toll from Wednesday’s weather stands at three with authorities saying rumors of a fourth fatality proved not to be true.

“We have only had three weather-related fatalities in Chickasaw County,” said Andy Harmon, Chickasaw County coroner. “There was a fatal motor vehicle accident during the storm that was right on the Monroe/Chickasaw County line and it was later determined to have occurred in Monroe County.”

Harmon said the names of those fatalities would probably be released around 11 a.m. today. He said authorities were still trying to notify next of kin.

Volunteers, chainsaw, hammers and a lot of sweat came out Wednesday as the community began cleaning up from the disaster.

“The clear skies helped a lot,” said Linda Griffin, deputy director of the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency. “All roads have been cleared and we also had 16 people going door-to-door to account for everyone and see if people needed anything.”

Griffin said county work crews and inmate labor had most roads passable by midnight Wednesday.

“Today (Wednesday) was pretty much a work day for everybody,” said Griffin. “We had hundreds of volunteers show up to help and we put them to work.”

Griffin said food and clothing donations can be taken to The Salvation Army on Washington Street in Houston. Non-perishable food items, toiletries and other supplies should be taken to the National Guard Armory in Houston on North Pearl Street.

Food for recovery workers and volunteers should be taken to the Houston Fire Station on Main Street.

Aid stations are at Amp Doss store on Highway 8 East, Buena Vista Fire Station, Bethel Baptist Church and McCondy Methodist Church.

About 2,600 residents remained without power Thursday.