At least 21 people are reported to have died after a series of deadly storms across the southern and midwest US, with severe rains, flooding rivers and tornadoes leading to several evacuations in the region.
Some cities ordered people to leave their homes as floodwaters rose. And rescue crews have been spotted using inflatable boats to check on residents in Kentucky and Tennessee.
The Tennessee health department has confirmed 10 deaths in the state relating to the severe weather, including tornadoes and flooding. Though severe weather was diminishing in some areas, floodwater and debris hazards remain.
Alabama and Mississippi grappled with new tornado warnings issued on Sunday while flash flood warnings were in effect for several counties across Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, according to AccuWeather. Power and gas were cut off in regions stretching from Texas to Ohio.
“River flooding will be a concern across middle Tennessee through mid-week as well,” the National Weather Service in Nashville warned in a social media post on Monday. The post invoked the “Turn Around Don’t Drown!” slogan to warn motorists against trying to drive through floodwaters.
By Sunday, more than 90 tornadoes had been reported in at least 10 states, including Kansas, Alabama and Georgia, ABC News reported.
A nine-year-old boy was one of the reported deaths in Kentucky. He was walking to catch his school bus when he was caught in floodwaters.
“My heart breaks for this family,” the Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear, said in a Facebook post. “We need everyone to understand that all water poses a risk right now. Let’s do everything possible to keep our loved ones safe.”
Police say a five-year-old boy died after a tree fell on his family’s home in Arkansas. In Missouri, a 16-year-old volunteer firefighter died in a crash while trying to rescue people caught in the storm.
The Nelson county sheriff’s office in Kentucky wrote in a Facebook post that on Saturday a 74-old-person was found dead after having been trapped in a car fully submerged by floodwater.
“Please do not try to cross flooded roadways,” the post said. “The end result does not outweigh the risk.”
Some areas could remain underwater through the coming days due to additional rounds of rain in the forecast. Runoff from the extreme rainfall will probably result in moderate to major flooding in the next few weeks in rivers across the region.
The storms in question arrived as the ongoing, global climate crisis – driven in large part by the burning of fossil fuels – inflicted heavier rainfall and related flood risks to most parts of the US. The upper midwest and Ohio River valley were predicted to be among the regions most affected, according to Climate Central, an independent non-profit that researches weather patterns.
