As the U.S. struggles to control the COVID-19 pandemic, powerful storms pounded the southeast part of the country, killing more than 30 people.

Several states in the region saw tornadoes, mudslides and flooding. Home were destroyed homes and more than a million people were left without power. 

"Now they have lost literally everything they own," said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. 

Some storm victims were already unemployed because of COVID-19. 

The storms started on Easter Sunday and moved quickly along the east coast. 

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey suspended social distancing rules as people, some with masks, huddled in storm shelters. 

The Associated Press reports, "It wasn't clear whether the combination of destroyed housing and social distancing requirements would lead to problems for tornado survivors." 

The Red Cross is modifying its response to the storm damage because of the virus.

Red Cross volunteers are putting displaced families in hotels instead of emergency shelters and reducing in-person contact by assessing damage through video conferencing.