At least eight people have died after a powerful storm swept through Kentucky, causing severe flooding that submerged roads and homes, Governor Andy Beshear announced on Sunday. Additionally, one person died in Georgia, CNN reported.
Beshear stated that emergency responders are in the search and rescue phase, having conducted more than 1,000 rescues in the past 24 hours. He described the storm as “one of the most serious weather events we’ve dealt with in at least a decade.”
Devastation Across Multiple States
Video footage from several states showed submerged vehicles, toppled trees, and inundated homes. Reports indicate widespread flooding in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Officials noted that water levels in Kentucky reached historic highs as the storm intensified on Saturday.
Beshear emphasized the storm’s “massive” impact on the state, mentioning “hundreds of water rescues” and “multiple fatalities.” In a post on X, he urged residents to stay alert, highlighting over 300 road closures due to mudslides and snow.
“We need Kentuckians to remain alert. There are more than 300 road closures, with @KYTC leaders saying the statewide impact is historic. From mudslides in the east to snow in the west, the situation is dangerous. Please plan ahead, avoid travel and stay safe, Kentucky.”
State of Emergency and Federal Response
Beshear declared a state of emergency in Kentucky ahead of the storm on Friday. He thanked US President Donald Trump for approving a federal disaster declaration, making federal aid available to affected regions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently on-site in Kentucky, along with 146 soldiers and airmen from the Kentucky National Guard.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson warned that severe weather conditions are expected to persist for several more days. Evacuations have been prompted by intense rain and flooding, and power outages have affected hundreds of thousands of customers across multiple states.
Widespread Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage
Flash flood emergencies and warnings remain in effect for parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas. Several tornado warnings were issued in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee before the storm moved into Georgia on Sunday.
According to PowerOutage.us, as of 2:20 PM ET:
- 108,028 customers in Georgia
- 75,724 in Alabama
- 61,637 in West Virginia
- 61,520 in Virginia
- 29,628 in Kentucky were without power. Additionally, water systems in Kentucky have been severely impacted, with 9,800 service connections without water and 21,000 under boil water advisories.
A Kentucky nursing home evacuated 100 residents to a local church due to extreme flooding. Similarly, a nursing home in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, evacuated 52 residents to another facility.
Fatalities and Rescue Efforts
A 73-year-old resident of Manchester, Kentucky, was swept away by floodwaters on Saturday night while driving on Kentucky Highway 8, according to the Clay County Coroner’s Office. Two additional people died in Kentucky when a vehicle was swept away in flash flooding in Hart County at around 10:30 PM local time on Saturday.
In Georgia, one person died in Atlanta’s Grove Park area when a large tree fell on a home during a severe thunderstorm, according to Atlanta Fire Captain Scott Powell. Emergency responders attempted to rescue the trapped individual, but the effort resulted in a fatality.
Storm’s Aftermath and Continuing Impact
The storm is expected to weaken by Monday. However, parts of the Great Lakes region could experience lake-effect snow in its wake. More than 10 million people remain under a winter storm warning through Monday morning from upstate New York to New England.