At least nine people lost their lives over the weekend as heavy downpours inundated parts of the southeastern United States, flooding roads and homes.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that eight of the fatalities occurred in his state and cautioned during a Sunday news conference that the death toll could rise.
Rescue teams saved hundreds of people stranded in floodwaters, many trapped in vehicles. Beshear urged residents to “stay off the roads right now and stay alive.”
In Georgia, a ninth fatality was reported after an uprooted tree crashed into a home, killing a man lying in bed.
Severe storm alerts were in place across Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina throughout the weekend. Many of these states are still recovering from the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September.
By Sunday night, over half a million households across the eight states were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
The devastation was particularly severe in Kentucky, where the victims included a mother, her seven-year-old child, and a 73-year-old man.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that parts of Kentucky experienced up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rainfall, leading to widespread flooding. Rising river levels and submerged vehicles were documented in images shared online.
Governor Beshear reported more than 300 road closures in Kentucky via a post on X and announced he had requested an emergency disaster declaration and federal assistance from the White House, as per CBS News.
President Donald Trump approved the disaster declaration on Sunday, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief efforts despite his previous calls to abolish the agency.
Officials have cautioned that the worst of the flooding is not over yet.
“The rivers are still going to rise,” Eric Gibson, director of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, said on Sunday.
Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster with the NWS, said: “The effects will continue for a while, a lot of swollen streams and a lot of flooding going on.”
In Obion County, Tennessee, heavy rains there caused a levee to break, “resulting in rapid onset flooding”, a local NWS account said on X.
“If you are in the area, GET TO HIGH GROUND NOW! This is a LIFE THREATENING situation,” the post said.
The town of Rives along the Obion River was deluged from the breached flood barrier.
Footage shows brown water rushing over rocks and past trees, as rescue workers in red boats pass flooded homes.
Steve Carr, the Obion County mayor, declared a state of emergency on Facebook and said there would be mandatory evacuations in Rives because of “the rising water, no electricity, and freezing temperature creating a life-threatening situation”.
Located north-east of Memphis, Rives has a population of roughly 300.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey issued a state of emergency in 10 counties on Saturday and added another three counties to the list on Sunday.
“Please continue to be cautious,” Morrisey said on X.
Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Fema, said she had been in contact with both Governors Beshear and Morrisey, and left voicemails with Governors Bill Lee of Tennessee and Kay Ivey of Alabama.
“While emergency management is best led by local authorities, we reinforced that DHS stands ready to take immediate action to offer resources and support,” Noem said.
Meteorologists have issued warnings about an incoming polar vortex expected to hit early this week, bringing frigid conditions to the northern Rocky Mountains and the northern Plains.
In Colorado, temperatures could plummet to 14°F (-10°C), prompting the city of Denver to open shelters to accommodate its homeless population over the weekend.