At least one person died while a strong storm hits eastern US, causing floods, causing vacancy, widespread road closures, and dangerous travel conditions in several states.
A 73 -year -old resident of Manchester, Kentucky, died in the Horse Creek area after being taken by the strong waters of the flood when he got out of the car on Saturday night (15), the Clay County Coroner’s Office told the CNN.
Sudden flood alerts have been sent to thousands of people in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee until Saturday night. At least 413,000 people in Virginia were under threat of flood that could cause “considerable damage.”
Several tornado alerts were issued at Mississippi, West Tennessee and Southeast of Arkansas on Saturday night, and a large tornado warning for nighttime covers much of Mississippi and Alabama.
Meanwhile, more than 19,000 homes and companies were out of energy in Virginia on Saturday night, according to Poweroutage.us. More than 16,000 were also in the dark in Kentucky and Louisiana.
Virginia is suffering from heavy rainfall, which caused sudden floods reported in the southwest region, according to Governor Glenn Youngkin in an X post on Saturday afternoon. In some areas, they fell from 38 to 76 mm of rain, and 12 to approx. 38 mm are planned.
“Stay alert – don’t fight the water, just leave and ask for help”
Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia
Authorities are asking residents to leave the flooded areas immediately and seek help, if necessary, with rescue teams, police officers, police officers and the Virginia National Guard actively mobilized to ensure public safety.
While hitting Kentucky, the Kentucky Route 160 highway in Knott County was closed due to a landslide, while some houses in Perry County were emptied, and the waters in Hardin County reached historical levels, Governor Andy Beshear said in the afternoon Saturday.
In the city of Jackson, “serious floods” overflowed Panbowl Lake, while the teams ran to empty the area and facilities, including a nursing home and a hospital, authorities confirmed on Saturday night.
“Kentucky, we are seeing widespread floods throughout the state and we need everyone to take it seriously,” Beshear said in the statement.
“Make sure to receive weather alerts, have linked radios and be prepared to look for higher land if necessary,” he added.
Beshear declared a state of emergency on Friday (14) before. Shelters are being open to those who have evacuated their homes and Kentucky’s state police are doing well-being checks, he said on Saturday night.
The streets of Kentucky were already flooded with water and the parks turned into lakes on Saturday afternoon, and water levels are expected to continue rising at night. Some areas had already seen 50 mm to 100 mm of rain on Saturday afternoon.
“Strong rain is causing flooding in our area, and our rainfall system is currently working at maximum capacity,” said Bowling Green via X on Saturday.
“If you can avoid traveling today, stay off the roads to keep you and the other insurance,” said the statement published by the city.
The waters of the flood climbed the roads in several cities of Simpson County, Kentucky. In one point, “a standing vehicle was pushed out of the water,” said the emergency management office.
With the water level becoming louder and higher, “closed road” plates and barrels were placed and residents were warned to stay at home.
Manchester city officials responded to “numerous” aquatic rescues, the police department said on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere in Kentucky, dozens of flooded roads were closed in Adair County, according to emergency management authorities.
Rain can also cause other dangers, such as fallen trees and landslides, warned Kentucky’s transportation office.
