Extreme Weather Grips US, Claiming Lives, Disrupting Communities
A deadly combination of winter storms, flooding, and a looming polar vortex have brought hardship to communities across the United States, The Associated Press reports.
At least ten fatalities have been reported as a result of the severe weather, while millions face frigid temperatures, power outages, and hazardous travel conditions.
The eastern US is still reeling from weekend winter storms that brought heavy rains and flooding. Kentucky was particularly hard hit, with Governor Andy Beshear reporting nine deaths due to the flooding. President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the state, authorizing FEMA to coordinate relief efforts. Rescue teams have evacuated over 1,000 people stranded by floodwaters. Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson closed its emergency department due to nearby river flooding, transferring all patients to other hospitals.
Meanwhile, a polar vortex is descending upon the Rockies and northern Plains, bringing the threat of life-threatening cold. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures as low as -45 degrees Fahrenheit (-42.7 degrees Celsius) in northeastern Montana, with wind chills potentially reaching -60 degrees Fahrenheit (-51 degrees Celsius). An extreme cold warning is in effect for large areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Elsewhere, the weather service confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Hale County, Alabama, damaging mobile homes and causing power outages. A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Obion County, Tennessee, after a levee failed, flooding the town of Rives. In Atlanta, a tree falling on a home resulted in one fatality.
Transportation has been severely impacted across multiple states. High winds brought down trees and power poles in Albemarle County, Virginia, causing delays for emergency services. Authorities in Colorado reported eight fatal vehicle crashes since Valentine’s Day due to hazardous driving conditions. Several state patrol cruisers in Colorado were struck by other vehicles, fortunately without injury to the troopers. Avalanche warnings are in effect for many areas of the Rocky Mountains.
Power outages are widespread along the eastern seaboard, from New York to Georgia. In West Virginia, 13 southern counties are under a state of emergency for flooding. Michigan State Police reported over 100 crashes in the Detroit area due to icy roads, while ice and snow made travel treacherous across large swaths of the state.
