Severe storms have battered the Central United States over the weekend, with rising river levels in Kentucky prompting widespread evacuations and water rescues.
The National Weather Service had previously warned of “generational” flooding, which has become a reality as heavy rain continues to pummel areas already hit hard by repeated storms since Wednesday.
The storm system, which swept from Texas to Ohio, has already claimed at least 19 lives across seven states.
The situation is particularly dire in Kentucky, where Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, calling for residents to take the risks seriously as the Kentucky River threatens to reach historic flood levels in Frankfort, the state capital.
The river is expected to crest at 49.5 feet on Monday, just below the 51-foot level at which flood walls are designed to withstand.
As water levels rise, the city of Frankfort has enforced a curfew from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday to ensure safety and prevent looting.
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Mayor Layne Wilkerson stressed the importance of evacuating flood-prone areas and urged residents to conserve water, as the city’s water treatment plant is currently non-operational.
Meanwhile, about 50 miles northeast of Frankfort, Falmouth, Kentucky, has been placed under a mandatory evacuation order, with authorities preventing non-residents from entering the city.
The nearby Ohio River has also seen alarming rises, and Louisville is bracing for further flooding.
In addition to the flooding, tornadoes and strong winds have caused significant destruction, killing at least 10 people in Tennessee alone.
Dramatic footage shows entire neighborhoods submerged, with homes and roads entirely covered by water. In Wilmore, Kentucky, homes are nearly engulfed, with only rooftops visible above the floodwaters.
As the storm system continues to move eastward, the National Weather Service warns that more rainfall could lead to additional flooding across the region, with over 56,000 people without power in the hardest-hit areas.
Emergency responders, including the National Guard, continue to conduct rescues and assist in evacuations.
