Storms threatens 40MILLION across the South: Extreme wind, hail and rain leave 300,000 without power and spark flash flood warnings in Alabama The storms prompted boat rescues, toppled trees and power lines and raised the threat of flash floods elsewhere in the region The National Weather Service issued the flash flood emergency for the Birmingham, Alabama, area at the start of rush hour, warning that torrential rains - as much as 5 inches in some areas - had already fallen Jefferson County Emergency Management officials in the Birmingham area urged residents to stay off the roads because so many were flooded