At least nine people have died over the weekend as heavy rainfall and flooding ravaged parts of the southeastern US, submerging roads and homes.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that eight fatalities were reported in his state, warning that the toll could rise. During a Sunday press conference, he urged residents to avoid the roads to ensure their safety.
In Georgia, a ninth victim was reported when a man was killed by an uprooted tree that crashed into his home as he lay in bed.
Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina were all under storm-related alerts. These states are still recovering from catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September.
Over half a million homes in these states were without power on Sunday evening, according to poweroutage.us. Kentucky bore the brunt of the destruction, with the victims including a mother, her seven-year-old child, and a 73-year-old man.
Some areas of Kentucky saw up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rain, causing rivers to rise rapidly and trapping vehicles in feet of water.
Governor Beshear reported over 300 road closures and announced that he had written to the White House requesting an emergency disaster declaration and federal assistance for the affected regions.
President Donald Trump approved the declaration on Sunday, authorising the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which he has suggested abolishing, to co-ordinate disaster relief efforts.
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 also warned that a polar vortex is making its way early this week towards the northern Rocky Mountains and northern Plains in the middle of the country.
In Colorado, temperatures could drop to as low as 14F (-10C), with the city of Denver reportedly opening shelters for its homeless population this weekend.
