FRANKFORT, Ky. – A relentless barrage of tornadoes and historic flash flooding across several states has now claimed at least 24 lives, including children and first responders, according to state and local officials.
President Donald Trump has approved emergency disaster declarations for Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, allowing FEMA to provide additional support for state and local efforts.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the body of a missing Mooresville man was recovered on Sunday after he was sucked into a culvert on Saturday morning.
Officials said the 59-year-old victim was trying to clear debris near a culvert from a neighborhood pond overflow when he was sucked into it by the force of the floodwaters. Rescue efforts were hindered by the hazardous water levels, and the victim's body was recovered a little more than 24 hours after he was reported missing.
Tragedy also struck Sunday at a Georgia golf course when two people were killed by a falling tree. Columbus Public Information Officer Brittany Santiago said the father and son were killed at Bull Creek Golf Course due to the ongoing storms.
Also on Sunday, in Mississippi, officials reported that one fatality occurred during the severe weather that struck the state between Saturday and Sunday. That person was killed in Jasper County, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
The body of a LaCenter, Kentucky, man whose boat was swept away by floodwaters in McCracken County was recovered on Monday, according to Kentucky State Police. Lee Chandler, 27, was recovered after a multi-agency search.
On Saturday morning, a death occurred near the town of Boston, Kentucky, where the Nelson County Sheriff's Office said a 74-year-old driver was found dead in their vehicle after authorities responded to a call for a water rescue. Authorities have not identified the victim.
"Please do not try to cross flooded roadways," authorities said in a post on Facebook. "The end result does not outweigh the risk. Turn around don’t drown is more than a saying it’s the difference between life and death."
SOUTHEAST SLAMMED BY DEADLY SEVERE WEATHER, FLASH FLOODING ON SUNDAY
In Frankfort, Kentucky, police said a boy was swept away by floodwaters while on his way to the school bus stop in the Hickory Hills area. He was found dead a few hours later by EMS and first responders. The Franklin County Coroner identified the boy as 9-year-old Gabriel Andrews.
"A tragedy such as this is felt by our entire community, and we all grieve together," Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson said. "We encourage our community to be diligent and stay safe during this weekend’s continuing severe weather event."
In Missouri, officials said a 16-year-old firefighter was killed in a crash on Friday while he was responding to a reported water rescue in Beaufort. The firefighter was identified as Chevy Gall.
"Tonight is a fire chief's worst nightmare," officials with the Beaufort-Leslie Fire Protection District said. "We are heartbroken by the loss of one of our own. Chevy died while answering the call to help others. Our entire department is grieving, as we mourn with Chevy's family, friends, and our fellow first responders during this incredibly difficult time."
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This comes after a deadly tornado outbreak killed at least sevenpeopleand spawned nearly 70 reports of twisters across the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley last Wednesday.
At least 10 of those deaths happened in Tennessee, state officials said. On Thursday, President Donald Trump approved the disaster declaration for all 95 counties in Tennessee, setting in motion FEMA's response to disaster relief across the state.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, officials said a 5-year-old was killed in connection to the severe weather. Statewide, officials said 13 injuries have been reported.
The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management reported a second death in the state on Monday. According to a news release, the Sherwood Fire Department located the adult, male victim in a submerged vehicle in Pulaski County.
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The storms have also injured dozens of others and destroyed several homes from Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee through Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.
In Missouri, Whitewater Fire Protection District Chief Garry Moore was killed while responding to severe weather last Wednesday night along Highway 25 between Advance and Delta, Missouri. A statement from Whitewater Fire Protection District said the department responded on Wednesday night "to assist with search and rescue efforts due to widespread damage from a presumed tornado."
"During the response, Chief Moore observed a vehicle off the roadway and stopped to assess the incident and render aid if needed," the statement said. "A short time later, Chief Moore was found unconscious at the scene."
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In Indiana, Hendricks County Sheriff's Office officials said a 27-year-old Danville man was killed during the storm when his vehicle ran over downed power lines. At some point, the driver got out of the car and came into contact with the live power lines, deputies said.
And hundreds of roads across the river valleys are impassible.
Assessments are underway, such as in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where floodwaters took out part of Highway 171 – which is one of dozens of impassable roadways.
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