Heavy Rain and Flooding Cause Devastation Across Multiple States, With Snow and Ice to Follow
A devastating storm system has led to at least 10 deaths across the south-eastern United States following torrential rainfall and widespread flooding over the weekend.
Nine of the fatalities occurred in Kentucky, prompting Governor Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency. In addition, nearly 1,000 people stranded in floodwaters were rescued by emergency services, according to the governor. Kentucky now faces the possibility of colder and drier conditions, with risks of snow, ice, and further disruption, as predicted by BBC forecaster John Hutchinson.
In Georgia, a man tragically died when a tree, uprooted by the storm, crashed into his home while he was in bed. Other states including Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina were also placed under various storm-related alerts. Many of these regions had already experienced significant destruction from Hurricane Helene in September.
The storm caused widespread power outages, initially affecting hundreds of thousands of homes, with the numbers decreasing to tens of thousands by Monday, according to Poweroutage.us. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that some areas of Kentucky saw up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rain, which quickly led to severe flooding and river levels rising, submerging vehicles and closing hundreds of roads.
Among those who lost their lives in Kentucky were a mother and her seven-year-old child, as well as a 73-year-old man. In Knott County, one resident expressed concern over the repeated flooding, saying he feared he would “lose everything again” as he was still recovering from floods two years ago.
Kentucky Governor Beshear has formally requested emergency disaster assistance from the White House, and President Donald Trump authorised federal aid through FEMA.
In Tennessee, the heavy rainfall caused a levee breach in Obion County, resulting in flash flooding. The town of Rives, with a population of about 300, was submerged, and residents were evacuated. In response, the mayor of Obion County declared a state of emergency, while West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey issued a similar declaration for several counties.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Kristi Noem, has pledged support and resources for affected states, as DHS works alongside local authorities to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
The same storm system that brought catastrophic flooding to the US is now affecting Canada, with heavy snow expected in parts of the country. The NWS has also warned that the central US could face dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills in the coming week.
