Deadly weekend storms have left at least 14 dead in the midwestern and southern United States, according to officials, as eastern regions faced potential damaging winds and isolated tornadoes into Monday.
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency as early as Sunday (April 30) due to flooding that he described as “historic” for some parts of the state.
Greitens said thousands of National Guard troops might be called upon to assist in flood fighting efforts over the next few days.
At least two people were reported killed in the state due to storms that have hit southern Missouri, including in the St. Louis area where severe thunderstorms were forecast.
“In many parts of Missouri, this will be a flood of historic proportions. For example, the current river at Van Buren’s highest recorded flood was 29 feet. We are anticipating thirty seven feet by Tuesday morning. That’s why today I signed an executive order activating the National Guard and ordering that they be prepared to move hundreds, perhaps thousands, of troops to assist in flood fighting operations across the state. These floods may well be deep and destructive,” he said.
“This is serious. Stay safe. If you must drive, slow down and be alert. You might not see high water before it’s too late. Please do not try to drive through high water. Turn around, don’t drown. If you’re at home and it becomes clear that a flash flood is imminent, be prepared to move. Get to high ground, climb to safety and stay away from rising water,” he added.
Heavy rainfall in the Midwest was expected to continue on Sunday, along with wind gusts of 60 miles (95 km) per hour.
Flash floods and strong thunderstorms were forecast for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Severe weather devastated homes, overturned cars and felled trees, with the National Weather Service confirming at least four tornadoes in Texas.
The mayor of Canton, Texas — a city some 60 miles (95 kilometers) east of Dallas — said the death toll there stood at four.
“It is heartbreaking and upsetting to say the least,” Mayor Lou Ann Everett told journalists Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management told AFP severe weather had caused at least five fatalities in that state.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency had confirmed two deaths, one of them a child who was killed by electric shock in floodwater.
Heavy rains also lashed the midwestern state of Missouri, with at least two reported casualties.
According to CNN one of those killed was a 72year-old woman who was stranded in her car as it was swept away by floodwaters.
In Tennessee, a two-year-old girl was pronounced dead at a hospital in Nashville after she was struck by a heavy metal soccer goal blown over by heavy winds, according to the city’s police department.
As of late Sunday the NWS was projecting major flooding to continue in parts of eastern Oklahoma, northern Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
Authorities warned that severe storms potentially packing heavy winds, large hail and tornadoes could hit parts of the mid-Atlantic and northeastern US by Monday afternoon.
(Agence France Presse and Reuters)
