SILVERHILL, Alabama -- A highly destructive tornado hit downtown Silverhill "hard and fast" this morning, destroying 6 homes, flipping a pickup truck while a man was inside it, as well as picking up Little Hall, the former town hall, off its foundation and moving it 20 feet, the police chief said.

Chief Kim Wasdin said 8 homes were damaged and 6 of those are likely "total losses" after winds ripped off their roofs or walls.

One elderly woman was inside her home when it was struck, but neighbors got her out quickly and she suffered only minor injuries, Wasdin said.

A man was backing his pickup out of the downtown post office’s parking lot when the winds flipped his truck over. He also escaped with only minor scrapes and bruises, she said. Both were treated and are with their families now, she said.

Shelters were opened at Silverhill First Baptist Church on Silverhill Avenue and at Silverhill Covenant Church on Ala. 104, she said. No one was staying at the shelters yet, but "we expect some may need them when they come back from work" to find their homes are badly damaged Wasdin said.

Emergency personnel have shut down all side-streets off of Baldwin County 55 from South Boulevard to 104 due to the tornado damage, she said.

Wasdin said Silverhill Elementary School was not damaged. "The children are safe," she said.

Terry Wilhite, Baldwin County School System spokesman, said the "students were in tornado mode in hallway with hands over heads as they’ve practiced many times."

He said the school is open and parents are not being told to pick up their children.

"Typically in these instances, it’s safer for kids to stay in school for parents to come and check the kids out," Wilhite said.

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A tornado in Theodore injured 3 and destroyed a gas station.

The severe storm that caused damage in Silverhill — and also caused damage in west Mobile — has entered the Florida Panhandle, where there also have been reports of tornadic activity.

A tornado watch remains in effect until noon for coastal Alabama, southeast Mississippi and Northwest Florida.

The tornado watch includes George County in Mississippi, and most of southwest Alabama from Mobile to Monroe and Butler counties and extending east to the western portion of the Florida Panhandle.

"A strong squall line continues moving east this morning with strong damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and very heavy rain," meteorologists said this morning.

The storms also have created the threat of localized flooding, mostly over the north part of the southwest Alabama region this morning. That threat will also be true for the coastal sections of Alabama and northwest Florida by this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Thursday through Friday night, after the front passes through, the forecast calls for dry, cool weather. Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect, as well as a special marine warning.