Two victims killed by the destructive tornadoes that hit Mississippi Friday night have been identified as a young father of three and his one-year-old daughter.
Friends and loved ones have identified Ethan Herndon, 33, and Riley Herndon, 1, as having been killed when a tornado hit their home in Wren, Mississippi overnight.
Ethan's wife, Elizabeth, and their two other children, Brantley, 7, and Aubrey, 4, were badly injured by the severe weather but managed to survive.
The series of two dozen tornadoes that struck the area caused catastrophic damage and have killed 26 people and injured countless others.
Early Saturday morning, U.S.
President Joe Biden offered full federal support to communities devastated by the storms that swept through Mississippi and Alabama.
One-year-old Riley Herndon (center) was killed while her older brother Brantley, 7, and older sister Aubrey, 4, were badly injured when a tornado struck their home in Mississippi
Ethan Herndon, 33, was killed while his wife Elizabeth was left with a broken arm, leg, and hip
A created for the Herndon family states that the family is 'physically and emotionally shattered,' by the storms and the deaths.
'They have suffered the most painful and terrifying loss any of us can imagine, and their needs are obvious and great,' the fundraiser's description reads.
According to the page, Elizabeth suffered injuries including a broken arm and leg as well as a dislocated hip when their home in Mississippi was hit by the tornado.
Her oldest child, Brantley, is currently in the hospital with multiple broken bones, a lacerated liver, and a punctured lung.
He had to be airlifted to Lebonhuer Hospital for his severe injuries.
Aubrey was also taken to Lebonhuer with multiple lacerations, a broken elbow, and a possible broken ankle.
The fundraiser was posted early Saturday morning and had already surpassed its $30,000 goal, hitting $80,000 within 10 hours of it going up.
Donations and words of encourage poured in on the page from those who heard about the family's devastating story and wanted to help.
One person who donated anonymously contributed $10,000 to the cause.
'I don't know this family personally but prayers going up for all of them.
May God comfort and wrap his loving arms around them and hold them close during this tragic time,' wrote one person who donated $50.
According to Elizabeth's Facebook page, this is the second time she has lost a child.
In her profile, the mother says 'mommy of four' and writes 'We miss you sweet Wyatt.'
The mother also advocates for awareness of trisomy 13, a genetic condition that can affect normal fetal development.