HOPKINSVILLE, KY — Intense rainfall led to severe flash floods across portions of the Midwest and South on Friday. A young boy tragically drowned near Hopkinsville when he was caught up in floodwaters while heading towards his school bus. Numerous areas continue to grapple with destruction caused by tornadoes that obliterated whole residential zones earlier this week, claiming at least seven lives.
Wave upon wave of torrential rain has battered the central U.S. for several days, with meteorologists cautioning that this deluge might continue until Saturday. According to satellite images analyzed by the National Weather Prediction Center based in Maryland, clusters of intense storms were aligned across regions in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, resembling freight trains moving one after another.
In Frankfort, Kentucky, a 9-year-old boy passed away in the morning when floodwater carried him off as he walked towards his school bus stop. Governor Andy Beshear mentioned this on social media. Authorities stated that Gabriel Andrews’ body was discovered approximately half a mile from where he had disappeared.
In Hopkinsville, Kentucky—a city home to 31,000 inhabitants located 72 miles (116 kilometers) northwest of Nashville—the downtown district found itself underwater. As reported by a fire department representative, up to midday, rescuers had saved about twelve individuals along with over forty pets from their residences.
"The primary roads in Hopkinsville are likely submerged about 2 feet underwater," stated Christian County Judge-Executable Jerry Gilliam previously.
Tony Kirves and several buddies attempted to prevent the incoming floodwaters using sandbags and a vacuum at his photography studio in Hopkinsville. The water had inundated the basement and trickled into the first level of the building. He described downtown as resembling a lake.
He stated, 'We’re maintaining our position,' adding that they are doing their utmost to prevent any further advances.
A region extending from northeastern Texas up through Arkansas and into southeastern Missouri, home to roughly 2.3 million people, might experience outbreaks of severe thunderstorms later on Friday. According to warnings issued by the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center based in Oklahoma, these storms could potentially spawn powerful tornadoes along with large hail.
Seven individuals lost their lives during the series of storms that generated intense tornadoes starting on Wednesday and continuing into early Thursday. The victims were from Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana.
The governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, stated that whole communities in the severely affected town of Selmer had been "entirely obliterated," and he added that it was still too soon to determine if additional fatalities would be reported as search efforts remained ongoing.
Many states face an impending flash flood danger.
Intense rainfall was predicted to persist in sections of Missouri, Kentucky, and other areas over the next few days, potentially leading to hazardous flash flooding strong enough to carry off vehicles.
By early Friday morning, Hopkinsville received between 5 to 8 inches of rainfall (equivalent to 12.7 centimeters to 20 centimeters), leading the Little River to overflow its banks.
A pet boarding facility was flooded, leading rescue teams to relocate numerous dogs to a nearby animal shelter, stated Gilliam, the county executive. Emergency crews saved individuals trapped in around four or five cars and several houses, primarily using boats, according to Randy Graham, the emergency management director for Christian County.
"The scene down here is the worst I have ever witnessed," Gilliam stated.
Many roads across Kentucky remained inaccessible due to floodwaters, fallen trees, and landslides caused by rocks and mud. Governor Beshear warned that the count of closed routes was expected to rise as additional rainfall was forecast for later Friday night and into Saturday.
A landslide obstructed a roughly 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) portion of Mary Ingles Highway in the northern part of the state, as stated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The identical segment of this highway was also shut down due to a landslide back in 2019 and had only been reopened recently, according toWLWT-TV reports.
In rural Kentucky, flash floods pose a significant concern as water rapidly flows down from the mountains into the valleys. Just under four years prior, many lost their lives during flooding in the eastern region of the state.
Severe flooding along a stretch that encompasses Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis—both of which house significant cargo centers—might result in shipping and supply chain disruptions, according to Jonathan Porter, the chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.
Meteorologists blamed the severe conditions on high temperatures, atmospheric instability, significant wind shear, and ample moisture flowing northward from the Gulf. Since the onset of this week’s outbreak on Wednesday, the National Weather Service has issued at least 318 tornado warnings.
This incident occurs as roughly half of the National Weather Service forecast offices face a 20% staffing shortage following budget cuts implemented during the Trump administration, which is double what it was only ten years prior.
Tornadoes create a trail of destruction, with more potentially on the way.
This week in Selmer, homes were torn from their bases due to a tornado with wind speeds reaching an estimated 160 mph (257 kph), reported the weather service. The governor stated that early storm warnings probably helped save lives, leading hundreds of individuals to take refuge at a local courthouse.
In nearby Arkansas, a tornado close to Blytheville caused debris to be lifted up to 25,000 feet (7.6 kilometers), as stated by weather service meteorologist Chelly Amin. The state’s emergency management agency noted destruction affecting 22 counties due to tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and flash floods.
Crews operating bulldozers removed debris alongside the highway cutting through Lake City, an area struck by a tornado packing wind speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph). This twister tore rooftops from houses, brought down brick structures, and sent vehicles crashing into trees.
The governor of Mississippi stated that at least 60 residences sustained damage. Meanwhile, in the far west part of Kentucky, four individuals were hurt while seeking refuge inside a vehicle beneath a church carport in Ballard County, as reported by the county’s emergency management agency.
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