On Sunday, over 100 million Americans were under alerts for severe weather, including flooding, mudslides, snow, and strong winds, as dangerous winter conditions caused widespread disruptions. At least 10 storm-related deaths were reported, with nine fatalities in Kentucky and one in Georgia.
Heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding across the Southern U.S., inundating roadways and forcing evacuations in some areas. Meanwhile, snow and sleet affected the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with Burlington, Vermont, recording 8.5 inches of snow and Massena, New York, receiving 8.4 inches. Flash flood warnings were issued in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina over the weekend.
Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear described the flooding as “massive,” confirming eight weather-related deaths in the state, including a child. Six of these fatalities were due to flooding accidents, and two resulted from weather-related vehicle crashes. In response, search-and-rescue operations continued, with 19 swift-water teams deployed to assist in multiple counties. Over 1,000 rescues were conducted, and 146 National Guard soldiers were mobilized.
In Kentucky alone, nearly 450,000 utility customers in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee lost power. Nearly 23,000 customers in Kentucky were still without power by Sunday afternoon, and over 9,800 residents had no water, with some advised to boil water for consumption.
Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency and requested federal assistance. President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration, releasing federal funds for response efforts. In Kentucky, floodwaters also led to the evacuation of nursing homes and hospitals, and over 300 state and federal roads were blocked due to flooding and landslides.
In Tennessee, flooding prompted the evacuation of a nursing home in Macon County, while Clarksville saw significant flooding due to nearly 4 inches of rain. Emergency teams in both states were actively engaged in rescue operations and continued to monitor conditions as more rain was expected.
