At Least 7 Dead as Tornadoes and Flooding Devastate South and Midwest
Severe storms continue to wreak havoc with ongoing tornado activity, catastrophic flooding risks, and widespread power outages across multiple states.
- The death toll has risen to at least seven, with five fatalities in Tennessee, one in Missouri, and one in Indiana, as rescue efforts continue.
- The National Weather Service warns of life-threatening and potentially historic flash flooding through Saturday, with over a foot of rain expected in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
- More than 300,000 customers across nine states remain without power due to tornadoes, severe storms, and heavy rainfall.
- Emergency declarations have been issued in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Wisconsin, with FEMA staging supplies and local crews conducting rescues and clearing debris.
- Experts attribute the intensity of this 'once-in-a-generation' storm system to climate change, with atmospheric instability and Gulf moisture fueling the extreme weather.