Southern storm front spins out more tornadoes.

Severe storms and deadly tornadoes recently ripped across Tennessee and several other southern states, leaving a path of destruction that included thousands of cars and homes.

State Farm Insurance Cos. Spokeswoman Crystal Loveridge said as of the morning of April 10, the company had 4,227 auto and homeowners claims as a result of the tornadoes and hailstorms. The bulk of the claims were found in three separate concentrations around the Tennessee cities of Jackson, Gallatin, and Nashville.

Strong hail storms also were reported in areas around Memphis and Murfreesboro, Loveridge said. "The storm had a large, long tail on it, so the hail damage is widespread throughout the area ... not only damage to homes, but to autos that are now not driveable," Loveridge said, adding that more than 130 claims reps have been dispatched across the state to respond to storm claims.

According to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, 42 tornadoes were sighted April 7 across Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Indiana and South Carolina. The service reported at least 20 actually touched down in Tennessee with at least an additional six in Kentucky and four in Georgia.

Allstate Corp. and St Paul Travelers Cos. said they dispatched mobile response units to the area.

In Tennessee, the top five homeowners writers are: State Farm, with 26.5%; Tennessee Farmers Insurance Cos., with 17.1%; Allstate, with 10%; Nationwide Group, with 5.5%; and St. Paul Travelers Group, with 5%.