( CNN ) -- In a matter of minutes , a way of life disappeared in Hackleburg , Alabama . Three schools . A doctor 's office . The pharmacy . A ballfield where children swang for the fences . The Wrangler plant that employed hundreds . A service station . All gone . But the cost from Wednesday 's devastating storms was so much dearer . Twenty-nine people in the northwest Alabama town of nearly 1,600 residents died , according to Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams . Sixteen died at the scene and 13 died at several hospitals , Williams said . `` It 's been overwhelming at times , '' he said of the county 's ordeal . Another six perished in the county seat of Hamilton , he said , making for a total of 35 . Up to 400 people may have been hurt across Marion County , which borders Mississippi and has about 30,000 residents . The state 's official update Friday night listed seven people as still missing in Marion County . Total fatalities for all of Alabama was 249 . The storms -- which may have included two tornadoes -- roared along U.S. 43 and downtown , destroying almost every business in Hackleburg , officials said Friday . A trailer plant managed to survive , but up to 100 residences were destroyed . `` It 's pretty much wiped out , '' Williams said of the city . `` It looks like a war zone . '' A bank vault is being used to store medicine , now that the pharmacy is gone . Thirteen people were trapped in the Wrangler plant ; one died . `` Everything is gone , and I am not exaggerating , '' said city Police Chief Kenny Hallmark , 40 . But , officials said , there were blessings . The superintendent Wednesday decided to send students home . Assistance -- in the form of law enforcement , emergency crews and aid groups -- has poured in . And two members of the city 's police department recently received homeland security training in Eufaula , Alabama . About 250 firefighters from the region logged in as volunteers , Williams said . Although there were shelters , townspeople were taking caring of their own , Hallmark told CNN . `` We have a small , close-knit community that takes care of each other , where we do n't have to have shelters , '' Hallmark said . `` My house was in direct path and it is still standing , '' although it was damaged , he said . Others were not so fortunate . Most of the dead , Williams said , were found in residences . The incredibly powerful storms lifted a truck and deposited it four miles away , said Hallmark . For now , the city is digging out and trying to reassemble . `` This is people who lived here , '' the chief said .
Thirty-five people killed in Marion County , sheriff says . Most died in city of Hackleburg , which lost most of its businesses . A bank vault is being used to store medicine , now that the pharmacy is gone .