In areas of the Midwest and South already severely flooded by days of severe storms that in some cases produced deadly tornadoes, another round of flash floods and torrential rain was predicted for Saturday.
Throughout the central United States, torrential rains have been falling nonstop, causing waterways to rise quickly and triggering a number of flash flood emergencies in Missouri, Texas, and Arkansas on Friday night.
Tornadoes earlier this week damaged entire neighborhoods and killed at least seven individuals, leaving many communities still in shock.
Gov. Andy Beshear posted on social media that a 9-year-old kid in Frankfort, Kentucky, was washed away by floodwaters on Friday morning as he was making his way to a school bus stop.
According to officials, Gabriel Andrews’ body was discovered roughly 0.5 miles after his disappearance.
Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a 31,000-person city located 72 miles (116 kilometers) northwest of Nashville, had its downtown area flooded on Friday. According to a fire official, hundreds of pets were relocated away from the rising water, and a dozen humans were saved from their homes.
Using sandbags and a vacuum, Tony Kirves and a few pals attempted to contain the rising waters that flooded his Hopkinsville basement and leaked into the ground level of his photography business. He described downtown as “like a lake.”
“We’re holding ground,” he stated. “We’re trying to maintain and keep it out the best we can.”
Many states are at risk of flash floods.
The National Weather Service declared at least seven communities in Missouri, Texas, and Arkansas to be under a flash flood emergency on Friday night.
One occurred in Van Buren, Missouri, where a fast rising Current River and heavy rainfall resulted in at least 15 water rescues, according to weather service meteorologist Justin Gibbs.
Another occurred in Texarkana, Texas, where the city’s police department reported that multiple persons needed to be rescued from their cars due to the flooded roadways.
“If you don’t have darn good reason for being out (like one that involves a visit to the emergency room), please stay home and off the roads!!” the police department stated.
Parts of Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and other areas were predicted to have heavy rains through Saturday, which could result in deadly flash floods.
According to the weather service, 45 river areas across many states were predicted to reach significant flood stage, potentially resulting in widespread flooding of highways, buildings, and other vital infrastructure.
The NWS said Friday afternoon that 6 to 10 inches (15.2 to 25.4 centimeters) have fallen since Wednesday evening in Christian County, Kentucky, which includes Hopkinsville.
According to the report, 4 to 8 inches (10.2 to 20.3 centimeters) additional rain could fall by Sunday after the storm prompted the Little River to overflow over its banks.
Due to flooding, fallen trees, or mud and rock slides, hundreds of Kentucky highways were unusable on Friday. Beshear predicted that more rain on Saturday will result in even more closures.
In rural Kentucky, where water can flow from the mountains into the hollows, flash flooding is especially concerning. Flooding in the state’s eastern region killed hundreds of people less than four years ago.
This information has been sourced from AP News.
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