Wild weather has struck the South once again, with many Kentuckians still in harm’s way.
More than 10 people have been killed in the Bluegrass State after catastrophic storms led to unprecedented flooding and high waters submerged entire communities.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has said it is one of the most serious weather events his state has ever seen. More than a thousand people have been rescued so far, but the threat of flooding still isn’t over yet.
All 120 counties in Kentucky are under a flood warning, and crews are actively working to get people out of the water.
Earlier today, Beshear announced an additional two fatalities, bringing the total to 11 people killed by these floods. Officials warn several rivers in Kentucky have yet to crest, meaning more flooding and possibly more fatalities are likely.
“All of Kentucky still has standing water in different areas. Over 300 roads [are] still impacted and closed, so everyone be careful,” Beshear said in a press conference Monday.
“The amount of time it’s going to take for the water to go down in some places might be most of this week,” he added.
Another round of winter weather is expected to hit the state Tuesday through Wednesday. It is expected to see anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of snow, which may complicate search and rescue efforts.
Several states across the South face severe weather of their own. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) declared a state of emergency with flooding in 13 counties, several people are still missing, and river levels are expected to rise even higher as water flows to lower elevations, which could result in new areas being flooded.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal resources were also being deployed in West Virginia to help with efforts. In Tennessee, catastrophic rainfall caused a levee to break, flooding the town of Reeves in the western part of the state, where 200 people were rescued from the water.
Freezing temperatures are sweeping the South this week, which will pose a major threat to the people there as crews scramble to restore power in the hardest-hit areas.
