WASHINGTON, D.C. - Twisters tore their way through southern states last night and Wednesday morning. So far...they have caused at least 48 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said that FEMA is working with organizations on the scene and will be stepping-in as soon as possible.

"FEMA is working with state and local counterparts monitoring the storms and preparing to move in to assist with respect to the process of responding and recovering as quickly as possible." says Chertoff.

He adds, "The Regional Response Coordination Center Watch Unit in Thomasville, Georgia is up and running and we've got state liaisons in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and on its way to Arkansas. We've already deployed a team of FEMA people on the ground in Tennessee. So we're going to keep watching this. Again, I want to emphasize it's important for people to pay attention to the direction they get from their local officials regarding evacuation and safety."

The storms have made their ways across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama wiping out entire neighborhoods.