Rescue efforts are underway in Clarksville, Tennessee.At Least Nine Dead as Torrential Rains Flood Southeastern US
At least nine people lost their lives over the weekend as relentless downpours inundated parts of the southeastern United States, submerging roads and homes.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed eight fatalities in his state and warned that the death toll could rise. Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, he urged residents to avoid travel, emphasizing, "Stay off the roads right now and stay alive." Hundreds of people stranded in floodwaters—many trapped in their vehicles—were rescued.
In Georgia, a ninth death was reported after a man was killed in his bed when a fallen tree, uprooted by the storm, crashed into his home.
Widespread Storm Alerts and Power Outages
Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina were all under storm-related alerts. Many of these states are still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September.
As of Sunday night, more than half a million households across the eight states were without power, according to poweroutage.us.
Kentucky Hit Hardest
Kentucky bore the brunt of the storm’s destruction, with a mother and her seven-year-old child, as well as a 73-year-old man, among the victims. Some areas recorded up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), leading to widespread flash flooding.
Rising river levels and intense floodwaters left numerous vehicles submerged, as seen in dramatic images shared online. Governor Beshear reported more than 300 road closures and confirmed he had formally requested an emergency disaster declaration from the White House.
President Donald Trump approved the declaration on Sunday, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—which he has previously suggested abolishing—to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
Threat Not Over Yet
Officials have warned that flooding could worsen in the coming days.
"The rivers are still going to rise," said Eric Gibson, Director of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management.
Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster with the NWS, added: "The effects will continue for a while—there are a lot of swollen streams and ongoing flooding."
In Tennessee’s Obion County, heavy rainfall caused a levee to fail, triggering "rapid onset flooding," the local NWS office posted on X (formerly Twitter).
"If you are in the area, GET TO HIGH GROUND NOW! This is a LIFE-THREATENING situation," the warning stated.
The town of Rives, Tennessee, was particularly hard-hit, with floodwaters rushing through streets, submerging homes, and forcing emergency evacuations. Footage shows rescue workers navigating the rising waters in red boats.
Obion County Mayor Steve Carr declared a state of emergency and ordered mandatory evacuations in Rives, citing the dangerous combination of flooding, power outages, and freezing temperatures.
The town, located northeast of Memphis, has a population of roughly 300 residents.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency in 10 counties on Saturday, later expanding it to include three more on Sunday.
"Please continue to be cautious," Morrisey urged in a post on X.
Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said she had been in contact with Governors Beshear and Morrisey and had left voicemails for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.
"While emergency management is best handled at the local level, we assured them that DHS stands ready to provide immediate resources and support," Noem stated.
Meanwhile, meteorologists have warned that a polar vortex is expected to hit the northern Rocky Mountains and the northern Plains early this week.
In Colorado, temperatures could plummet to 14°F (-10°C), prompting Denver to open shelters for its homeless population over the weekend.
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