Severe Flooding and Rain in Southeastern US Claim 10 Lives

At least 10 people have lost their lives as heavy rain and flooding battered parts of the southeastern United States over the weekend, submerging roads and homes. 

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that nine of the deaths occurred in his state, prompting him to issue a disaster emergency declaration. Around 1,000 individuals stranded in floodwaters had to be rescued, according to officials on Sunday.

The affected regions could soon face drier, but colder conditions, with the potential for snow, ice, and significant disruption. The additional fatality occurred in Georgia, where a man was killed when an uprooted tree struck his home while he was in bed.

States including Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina were all under storm-related alerts throughout the weekend. Many of these areas also suffered severe damage from Hurricane Helene in September.

The storms left hundreds of thousands without power, though that number had decreased to tens of thousands by early Monday, as reported by Poweroutage.us. In Kentucky, some areas saw up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rain, according to the National Weather Service, which contributed to widespread flooding. The rapid rise in river levels trapped vehicles in several feet of water, leading to the closure of hundreds of roads.