LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — At least nine people have tragically lost their lives in the latest wave of severe weather affecting the United States. Among the deceased, eight individuals were from Kentucky, where creeks overflowed due to heavy rain, leading to road submersion and hazardous conditions. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced the fatalities, highlighting that the majority stemmed from vehicles being trapped in high water, including a mother and her 7-year-old child.
On Sunday, Governor Beshear reported that hundreds of stranded individuals had been rescued across the state. President Donald Trump responded by approving a disaster declaration for Kentucky, which enables the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief operations. Beshear urged residents to avoid traveling on the roads to ensure their safety as search and rescue operations were ongoing. Since the storms began on Saturday, approximately 1,000 rescues have been conducted statewide.
The severe storms have also resulted in widespread power outages, impacting around 39,000 homes, with strong winds threatening to exacerbate the situation. Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service, noted that some parts of Kentucky and Tennessee received as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain, contributing to continued flooding and swollen streams.
In addition to Kentucky's hardships, Alabama experienced an EF-1 tornado that touched down in Hale County, causing destruction to several mobile homes and downing trees and power lines, although no injuries were reported immediately. Tuscumbia faced extensive damage to public structures, prompting local authorities to advise against entering the area.
A state of emergency was declared in parts of Obion County, Tennessee, following a levee failure that flooded the small community of Rives, home to roughly 300 residents. Mayor Steve Carr announced mandatory evacuations due to rising waters, loss of electricity, and life-threatening temperatures.
Tragically, in Atlanta, one fatality occurred when a large tree fell onto a home early Sunday morning. Across northern states like North Dakota, dangerously cold wind chill temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero (minus 45.6 Celsius) were predicted, as these regions remained under an “extreme cold warning” by the National Weather Service.
The weather conditions prompted warnings of severe flooding in Kentucky, as vehicles and structures became submerged, and mudslides obstructed roads in Virginia. In Kentucky’s Bonnieville community, the mother and child were swept away, with additional fatalities reported in Hart County and Clay County due to flooding. The Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson had to close its emergency department and transfer patients to other facilities to ensure their safety from rising water levels.
Visual evidence of the devastation emerged on social media, showing significant flooding in south-central and eastern Kentucky, while Virginia reported multiple blocked roads due to mudslides. High winds further contributed to downed trees and power poles in Albermarle County, Virginia, where police urged caution among residents due to the overwhelming number of weather-related emergencies.
In West Virginia, 13 counties declared a state of emergency as flooding rendered numerous areas inaccessible to vehicles. Volunteer fire departments also had to address flooding in their own establishments while responding to rescue calls.
Meanwhile, regions in the Rockies, Midwest, and Northeast faced winter weather advisories due to ice and snow. Michigan reported hazardous road conditions leading to numerous vehicle accidents since Saturday. Authorities warned Colorado residents to exercise caution while driving under difficult weather conditions, with recent accidents resulting in multiple fatalities.
Meteorologists indicate that the United States is on the brink of its coldest polar vortex event this season, affecting areas from the northern Rockies to the northern Plains. The warning extends to the potential for temperatures plummeting to extreme lows, with certain regions expected to experience life-threatening cold over the coming days.
In summary, the combination of severe storms and cold weather has led to significant loss of life, extensive property damage, and ongoing rescue efforts in affected areas across the United States, highlighting the urgent need for community response and preparedness.
