Twisters Cut Trail of Destruction Across East Coast

A violent winter storm that hammered millions of Americans for several days left a trail of death Wednesday night.  The severe storm unleashed dozens of tornadoes from Louisiana to Virginia.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, strong winds toppled trees into homes, cars and power lines.

The storm killed four in Virginia and took out power to 160,000 people in four states.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency after twisters shredded and tossed homes and left thousands without power.

In the small town of Waverly, southeast of Richmond, there was complete and utter devastation. Three people - two men and a 2-year-old baby – were killed after taking cover in a mobile home.

"This is devastating," one resident said.

"Pray each other's strength as we get through this tragedy," WWBT quoted Terrence Green, pastor of Empowerment Temple, which is now in ruins.

Several buildings were wiped out.

"What's there now, there's nothing in there but boards that have been destroyed," one resident said.

More than 30 tornadoes have struck several states in the last day alone. The first twister tore across Louisiana, destroying an RV park.

"Just God, let us be okay, let us get through this," tornado survivor Ashley East prayed.

Torrential rains flooded the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast. The downpours led to flash floods washing away cars and creating a mess for the Washington, D.C., area.

"So I think I will be trapped, I will die, so I think just, 'God help me.' I just prayed," one woman recalled.

In New York, heavy winds overturned a truck on the George Washington Bridge.

And on the backside of this massive storm, there are blizzard conditions across the Midwest. In parts of Illinois and Indiana, near white-out conditions are making travel extra difficult.

"If you don't need to make the trip - don't make the trip today," Indiana State Police Officer Ann Wojas said.