Deadly floods and Arctic blast devastate US states

Severe flooding and a harsh Arctic blast have claimed at least 14 lives across multiple US states, with emergency crews working tirelessly to rescue stranded residents amid rising waters and plunging temperatures.

At least 14 people have died as severe flooding and winter weather wreak havoc across multiple US states. Kentucky has been hardest hit, with 12 fatalities after relentless rainfall dumped over a month’s worth of precipitation in just 24 hours. Governor Andy Beshear warned that emergency crews are still working to reach stranded residents, with over 1,000 rescues already carried out.

West Virginia is also in crisis, with several missing persons reported. Flash flood emergencies were declared across Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee, while Obion County, Tennessee, was forced to evacuate after a levee breach.

The disaster is worsened by an Arctic blast bringing life-threatening cold to over 60 million Americans. Wind chills could drop as low as -60°F (-15°C) in the Northern Plains, while southern states brace for a sharp temperature drop.

Kentucky has suffered severe infrastructure damage, with over 340 roads closed and at least 10 bridges destroyed in Pike County. Beshear declared a state of emergency and thanked President Donald Trump for approving federal aid.

With rivers still swollen and more snowfall expected, officials warn the crisis may worsen.

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