At least two people have died, and over 10 million people were under flood warnings or flash flood emergencies from Ohio to Mississippi early Sunday as a powerful storm swept across the eastern U.S.
Footage from multiple states shows uprooted trees, submerged vehicles, and homes inundated by floodwaters, with widespread reports of flooded roads, businesses, and residences in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia.
In Kentucky, water levels reached historic highs on Saturday as the storm intensified, officials said—just two years after catastrophic flooding claimed 43 lives and devastated parts of the state.
The Louisville Metro Police Department reported late Saturday that first responders had carried out nearly 30 water rescues—and the number was still rising.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged residents to stay alert, warning of dangerous conditions across the state. “There are more than 300 road closures, with [state transportation] leaders saying the statewide impact is historic,” he posted on social media. “From mudslides in the east to snow in the west, the situation is dangerous. Please plan ahead, avoid travel, and stay safe, Kentucky.”
A flash flood emergency was declared for Tazewell, Mercer, and Summers counties in Virginia, where swift water rescues have been ongoing since Saturday.
“The frigid water temperatures can cause rapid hypothermia for anyone caught in the flooding,” the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg, Virginia, warned.
In Grundy, Virginia, near the Kentucky state line, video footage showed rushing waters as rescue crews deployed boats to search flooded buildings, according to a social media post from Chesterfield County Fire and EMS. A scuba rescue team was also dispatched.
Between 3 and 5 inches of rain have drenched parts of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, with some areas receiving more than 6 inches. Flash flood emergencies and warnings remain in effect through Sunday morning across West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee, with flood watches in some areas extending into Monday.
Meanwhile, severe storms triggered multiple tornado warnings across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee late Saturday before moving into Georgia on Sunday morning.
Widespread power outages have left at least 265,000 customers in Georgia, 183,000 in Alabama, 64,000 in Mississippi, and 20,000 in Louisiana without electricity as of 6:30 a.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us. Another 60,000 customers were affected across Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee.
The storm has claimed at least two lives—one in Kentucky and another in Georgia.
In Manchester, Kentucky, a 73-year-old man died after being swept away by floodwaters while driving on Kentucky Highway 8, according to the Clay County Coroner’s Office. After leaving his vehicle, he was carried away by the strong currents.
In Atlanta, Georgia, a person was killed in the Grove Park neighborhood when a large tree fell on a home during intense thunderstorm activity, Atlanta Fire Capt. Scott Powell said. Fire crews responded to a 911 call just before 5 a.m. and worked to free the trapped individual, but the rescue effort ultimately ended in tragedy.
While the storm is expected to subside by Monday, parts of the Great Lakes region could face heavy lake-effect snow in its aftermath.
Alabama town slammed by storm
In Tuscumbia, Alabama, powerful winds ripped roofs off several structures, including a middle school, according to Mayor William Foster.
“There is a lot of damage downtown,” Foster told CNN affiliate WAFF on Sunday morning. Drones were set to assess roof damage and other destruction, while a team from the Red Cross was also being deployed to assist affected residents.
Despite the significant damage, the mayor reported no major injuries. “Most calls were for lack of power, oxygen,” he said.
The city government issued a statement on Facebook warning that downtown Tuscumbia “was directly impacted” by the storm and urged residents to avoid the area.
CNN has reached out to the Tuscumbia Police Department and the Tuscumbia Utilities Department for further details.
Flash flood event extremely rare
A rare, high-risk Level 4-of-4 alert for flooding rainfall was issued for more than 1.5 million people in parts of northwestern Tennessee and western Kentucky, where “life-threatening and significant flooding is anticipated,” according to the Weather Prediction Center.
Such warnings are issued on fewer than 4% of days per year on average but account for more than 80% of all flood-related damage and 40% of flood-related deaths, according to research from the center.
The risk level was heightened due to an “unusual” atmospheric setup for mid-February, which could produce rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour in the heaviest storms, the center said. Some areas could see up to half a foot of rain, particularly where storms stall for extended periods.
Almost no area can absorb that much rainfall without flooding, but the situation is even more dangerous due to already saturated soils from recent storms, making flash flooding more likely and severe.
Communities from eastern Arkansas to West Virginia were under a Level 3-of-4 risk for flooding rainfall on Saturday, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency in 10 counties and a state of preparedness across all 55 counties, while the National Guard was deployed in Virginia to assist with recovery efforts.
By Saturday afternoon, heavy rain had already flooded streets across Kentucky, with some areas receiving 2 to 4 inches of rainfall.
In Jackson, Kentucky, “serious flooding” caused Panbowl Lake to overflow, prompting emergency evacuations, including at a nursing home and hospital, officials said.
In Whitesburg, Kentucky, residents of the Letcher Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility were temporarily relocated to a nearby high school. “We will reach out to inform each family individually as we arrange transportation for their loved one,” the nursing home said in a Facebook post.
Floodwaters surged through roadways in several Kentucky cities, including Simpson County, while in Adair County, dozens of roads were closed due to flooding, emergency officials reported.
For some residents, the storm brings back painful memories of past disasters. Knott County resident Danny Laferty, who lost his home in the devastating 2022 floods, fears history could repeat itself.
“It was awful, terrible. I mean, we had mud 6 inches deep in here,” Laferty told CNN. “That’s what makes me so nervous.”
