As many as 100 homes were damaged, with 30 to 40 “completely destroyed,” Troup County Emergency Management Director Zachary Steele said in a news conference Sunday.

Threats include the possibility of strong tornadoes, hail the size of tennis balls and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, the Storm Prediction Center said.

A tornado watch is in effect until 11 p.m. local time for eastern Louisiana and central and southern Mississippi, including the cities of Jackson, Meridian and Hattiesburg.

“Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats initially, but the tornado potential should increase toward and after sunset, when low-level shear will considerably increase.” the Storm Prediction Center said.

The presidential declaration allows federal aid to help recovery efforts in Mississippi counties “affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes” Friday and Saturday, the White House said in a statement.

An EF-4 tornado flattened much of Rolling Fork, which endured maximum wind gusts of 170 miles per hour, weather service meteorologist Bill Parker said.