Governor Robert Bentley has a declared a State of Emergency for all 67 Alabama counties as a result of severe weather impacting the state.  

By declaring a State of Emergency, the Governor authorizes the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies to assist communities and make the appropriate assessments of damage.

Tornados, severe thunderstorms, hail, and straight line winds have begun moving into the state.  There are at least seven counties reporting damage with the most extensive damage in Jefferson and Chilton counties.

By Joseph Neese

(RNN) - The mid-South was surprised Monday night with a rare sighting of the phenomenon known as the aurora borealis, or Northern Light, and forecasters say the effect could make a second appearance tonight.

Reported sightings of the aurora trickled in from Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and as far south as northern Arkansas and Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

One viewer reported seeing the aurora in Corning, AR.

Monday's aurora was rare because of how far south its glow could be witnessed.

ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) - The rebuilding effort after this spring's deadly tornadoes has helped lift Alabama's struggling construction industry.

A report from the Center for Business at the University of Alabama finds that state residents will spend somewhere between $2.6 billion and $4.2 billion on rebuilding efforts. Researchers expected about $1 billion will be spent this year, with the remainder following next year.

Calhoun County builder David Kelly, who installs drywall, told The Anniston Star (http://bit.ly/n1wXT1 ) that before the tornadoes struck, he was struggling to get by week-by-week. He says business has now started to pick up.

Homebuilder Tony Porco also says the recovery efforts after the storms stimulated the demand for construction work.