At Least 9 Killed in ‘Severe’ Kentucky Flooding as State Declares Emergency

A powerful winter storm has wreaked havoc across multiple states, leaving at least nine people dead, including eight in Kentucky, as relentless rain led to rising creeks and flooded roadways.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed on Sunday that emergency responders rescued hundreds of people stranded by floodwaters. President Donald Trump approved Kentucky’s disaster declaration, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief efforts.

Beshear stated that most fatalities, including a mother and her 7-year-old child, resulted from vehicles getting trapped in high water.

''So folks, stay off the roads right now and stay alive,'' he urged. ''This is the search and rescue phase, and I am very proud of all the Kentuckians that are out there responding, putting their lives on the line.''

Since the storm began on Saturday, more than 1,000 rescues have taken place across Kentucky. Power outages affected approximately 39,000 homes, with Beshear cautioning that strong winds could further disrupt electrical service.

Bob Oravec, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service, reported that Kentucky and Tennessee received up to six inches (15 cm) of rain.

''The effects will continue for a while, a lot of swollen streams and a lot of flooding going on,'' Oravec said.

Meanwhile, Alabama authorities confirmed an EF-1 tornado struck Hale County overnight, causing destruction to mobile homes, trees, and power lines, though no injuries were immediately reported. In Tuscumbia, severe storm damage impacted downtown buildings, prompting officials to urge residents to avoid the area.

A state of emergency was declared in Obion County, Tennessee, after a levee breach flooded Rives, a small community of around 300 people.

''There will be mandatory evacuations in effect for the residents in Rives due to the rising water, no electricity, and freezing temperatures creating a life-threatening situation,'' Mayor Steve Carr announced.

In Atlanta, authorities confirmed one fatality when a tree fell on a home early Sunday, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue Captain Scott Powell.

Dangerous wind chills, dropping as low as -50°F (-45.6°C), were forecast across North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota, prompting the National Weather Service to issue extreme cold warnings.

Kentucky Faces Severe Flooding

Floodwaters inundated streets and buildings across Kentucky, while mudslides obstructed roads in Virginia from late Saturday into Sunday. Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Virginia remained under flood warnings.

Hart County Coroner Tony Roberts reported that the mother and child were swept away Saturday night in Bonnieville. In southeastern Kentucky, authorities discovered a 73-year-old man deceased in floodwaters in Clay County, according to Revelle Berry, Deputy Director of Emergency Management. Beshear confirmed that four of the deaths occurred in Hart County.

The Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson was forced to close its emergency department and transfer patients to other hospitals due to flooding.

Images on social media showed vehicles and homes submerged in floodwaters across south-central and eastern Kentucky. In Buchanan County, Virginia, mudslides blocked multiple roads, while high winds downed trees and power lines in Albemarle County, Virginia. Charlottesville Police warned that response times could be delayed due to an overwhelming number of weather-related emergencies and urged residents to remain indoors.

Power outages were reported from New York to Georgia along the Eastern Seaboard.

In West Virginia, flooding led Governor Jim Justice to declare a state of emergency in 13 southern counties, with some areas completely inaccessible by vehicle. Several fire departments faced flooding in their own stations while continuing to answer emergency calls.

Snowstorms and the Polar Vortex Bring More Peril

Michigan roads became hazardous due to ice and snow, leading to 114 crashes around Detroit since Saturday, according to Michigan State Police.

''Fortunately, most were one-car spin-outs and there were no serious injuries,'' police reported on X. ''A majority of them were caused by drivers just going too fast or following too close.''

In Colorado, authorities reported eight fatalities in vehicle crashes since Valentine’s Day, though specific causes remain under investigation. Three state patrol cruisers, which had pulled over along the roadside, were struck by other vehicles, though no officers were injured.

Meteorologists warn that the U.S. is facing its 10th and most intense polar vortex event this season, with Arctic air pushing southward. The northern Rockies and northern Plains will be the first to experience the brunt of this chilling phenomenon.

The National Weather Service warned of "life-threatening cold" in the northern Plains on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Northeastern Montana could see temperatures plummet to -45°F (-42.7°C) with wind chills as low as -60°F (-51°C).

Avalanche warnings were issued for numerous regions of the Rocky Mountains, spanning from Colorado to Washington state, with the highest danger level in Utah.