Powerful storms have unleashed chaos across the southern and Midwestern United States, with the National Weather Service warning of “generational” floods. From Texas to Michigan, violent weather has spawned 19 tornadoes, leaving widespread destruction, injuries, and massive power outages.
Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi face a dire threat, with forecasts predicting up to 15 inches of rainfall by the weekend. Emergency officials have reported injuries but no fatalities so far. In Bay, Arkansas, a freight train derailment was linked to the extreme weather.
Governors in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee have declared states of emergency as emergency response teams work to assess the damage. Missouri officials reported train cars flipped by the storm’s powerful winds, adding to the region’s growing infrastructure damage.
More than 400,000 people remain without power as the storm system moves eastward, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate or prepare for worsening conditions. Experts warn that the unprecedented flooding could rival some of the most destructive weather events in recent U.S. history.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as rescue efforts intensify in the most severely impacted areas.