This grim toll includes ten deaths reported in Tennessee, three in Missouri, and two in Kentucky, along with one each in Indiana, four in Arkansas, and one in Mississippi. Among the victims is a nine-year-old boy from Kentucky who tragically lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters on his way to the bus stop.
Emergency officials have issued a mandatory evacuation for Falmouth, a small town of 2,000 in north-central Kentucky located near the Licking River. Residents are urged to leave as the river is at risk of rising to levels reminiscent of a catastrophic flood nearly three decades ago that caused five deaths and devastated 1,000 homes.
Courtney Steinkamp, a sophomore at Eaton High School said, “As we live in Colorado, we don’t have as much moisture and humidity to create these ideal weather conditions for these severe storms. It is truly a blessing that we live in a dry state.”
In Memphis, Tennessee, rain fell at unprecedented rates, exceeding five inches per hour, which led to severe flooding across streets and neighborhoods, according to NWS. A particularly strong EF-3 tornado tore through the city of Selmer, causing additional loss of life in the southwestern part of the state.
In light of the extensive damage, Tennessee officials initiated the state’s “Crisis Cleanup” operations on Sunday and urged residents to avoid travel due to numerous hazards on the roads.
In Arkansas, authorities confirmed the state’s first storm-related death, with a five-year-old child discovered in a residence in southwest Little Rock. The region faced extraordinary rainfall, with some areas receiving as much as 15 inches, leading to flood stages rising to 10 feet.
In response to the devastating impacts of the storm, President Donald Trump declared a federal disaster for much of Arkansas on Saturday, ensuring that resources would be devoted for recovery efforts. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders revealed that estimates for debris removal costs from the storm have already surpassed $11.6 million.
The Pulaski County Government said, “After days of severe weather and flooding, our county is finally catching its breath. Cleanup efforts are in full swing.”
As the storm system moved eastward, forecasters predicted it would reach the Appalachians, central Georgia, parts of northern Florida, and central Alabama, bringing with it the risk of intense thunderstorms and potential flash flooding.
Meanwhile, South Texas has been grappling with record-breaking flooding, with at least four reported deaths and over 200 individuals needing rescue. The area has received nearly half a year’s worth of rain in just a few weeks, resulting in a total of at least six fatalities.
Alexis Kuskie, a sophomore at Eaton High School, said, “Families can donate to nonprofit organizations as well as go help clean up the debris. It’s ideal that the people affected by the storms come together and help one another in this time of grief.”
While people across the country are still struggling with damages caused by the storms, many are bunkering down due to more storms still on the way.
