Over the weekend, severe flooding in the southeastern US resulted in at least ten fatalities as communities faced overwhelming rainfall. Emergency declarations were issued across several states, with thousands in need of rescue and new weather threats looming.
Devastating Floods Claim at Least 10 Lives Across Southeastern US
Devastating Floods Claim at Least 10 Lives Across Southeastern US
Torrential rains lead to widespread destruction and fatalities in multiple states, prompting emergency declarations and rescue efforts.
At least 10 people have lost their lives following a weekend of relentless rain and flooding in parts of the southeastern United States. The hardest-hit state, Kentucky, saw nine fatalities reported by Governor Andy Beshear, who subsequently declared a state of emergency. As the rain inundated the region, approximately 1,000 individuals required rescue from flooded areas.
As the weekend ended, residents braced for a shift in weather conditions, with forecasts indicating potential for snow and ice amid falling temperatures, as reported by BBC meteorologist John Hutchinson. Tragically, one victim in Georgia succumbed when an uprooted tree crushed his home while he slept.
A broad spectrum of states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, experienced storm-related alerts. Most of these areas are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction in September.
Power loss affected hundreds of thousands of homes over the weekend, although numbers had reduced to around tens of thousands by early Monday, according to Poweroutage.us. The National Weather Service (NWS) noted that some regions in Kentucky received as much as 6 inches of rain, leading to rapidly rising river levels, extensive flooding, and blocked roads.
Among those lost were a mother and her young child, alongside a 73-year-old man. Residents like Danny Laferty, a survivor of previous floods, voiced deep concern over the latest disaster, fearing they might lose their homes once more. Beshear has reached out to the White House for federal disaster relief, prompting the approval for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate rescue efforts.
In Obion County, Tennessee, heavy rainfall led to a levee breach that caused rapid flooding. Mayor Steve Carr declared a state of emergency in Rives, home to approximately 300 residents. Meanwhile, West Virginia's Governor Patrick Morrisey similarly issued emergency declarations for numerous counties.
Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), indicated that while local agencies are primarily responsible for disaster response, DHS is prepared to provide necessary resources and support to affected states. As the same weather system advances, parts of Canada are now experiencing heavy snowfall, while the NWS warns of approaching arctic air that could bring severe cold and hazardous wind chills to the central US in the coming week.
