The death toll from powerful winter storms in the central and eastern US has risen to 14, with flooding, winds, and extreme cold causing widespread devastation. Governors in affected states have reported multiple fatalities and warned of ongoing hazards.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed on Monday that his state had recorded at least one death due to the severe weather.
The death toll from the powerful winter storms sweeping through the central and eastern United States has climbed to at least 14, officials reported on Monday. The region has been battered by floods, gale-force winds, and freezing temperatures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a warning on Monday about a winter storm system bringing arctic air that would result in “record cold” conditions, with wind chills potentially dropping as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit (-51 degrees Celsius) in Montana and North Dakota.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced that the death toll in Kentucky had increased to 12, up from eight the previous day. Meanwhile, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey reported one confirmed fatality in his state, adding that flooding was still a concern and that several people remained missing.
Additionally, a fatality was reported in Atlanta, Georgia, where an “extremely large” tree fell on a house early Sunday, killing one person, according to fire official Scott Powell.
In Kentucky, most of the deaths occurred when individuals were trapped in their vehicles by rapidly rising floodwaters. Among the victims was a mother and her child. Governor Beshear urged residents to avoid driving, as both local and federal authorities declared a state of emergency. Over 1,000 people were rescued by first responders within 24 hours.
The NWS continued to warn that the cold weather system would affect a vast area, with temperatures plummeting across the central plains, the eastern seaboard, and extending as far south as the Gulf Coast.
While power had been restored to many homes by Monday, over 50,000 customers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were still without electricity, according to poweroutage.us.
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